Dealing with bullying
Every day, there are hundreds of kids, teenagers and even adults who dread going school, college and offices. Wondering why? Bullying is the reason.
Every day, there are hundreds of kids, teenagers and even adults who dread going school, college and offices. Wondering why? Bullying is the reason.
A person may tolerate one or two episodes of pinching, pushing, hitting, teasing and name-calling. However, when it becomes relentless, the victim begins to live in a state of constant fear.
Here are a few tips on how you can deal with psychological and verbal bullying:
# Report a bully
If a young kid is being bullied, it would be best to inform a trusted adult, for teens, though, the approach would depend on the bullying situation.
If the victim is being bullied physically, it is vital to report the situation, as it may lead to physical harm.
Several students and adults too have died when bullying (stalking, threats and attacks) incidents were never reported, which gave a free hand to the bullies to get more violent. Therefore, it is important that you talk about bullying to someone and bring an end to it. Never be embarrassed about being bullied. Protecting your safety is foremost and rest assured, people will understand.
# Ignoring is the best medicine
It is best to ignore bullies. And no, it’s not a coward’s response. So if you ignore them, their SMS or E-mails – it would be your way of telling them that you don’t care. Always walk tall with your head held high. Gradually, the bullies will get bored and stop bothering you.
# Control your temper
Constant bullying can make anyone lose it. But that’s exactly what they are expecting you to do. It makes the bullies happy that they have control over you and your emotions. If you get stuck in a situation from which you cannot walk out, try throwing the bully off guard with humour.
# Be confident
Always look and sound confident. The minute the bullies realize that you are vulnerable, it’s a check one for them. Your body language should exude confidence, so never let them know that you are upset. Stand in front the mirror and practice ways to respond to the bully and always feel good about yourself.
# Be strong – physically and mentally
You might not be able to control the bully’s actions, but you can take control of your life. Try meditating and also exercising as this will make you physically strong and at the same time lift your mood. Fine tune your skills in something like chess, art, music – this is another way to gain confidence.
# Make new friends
Join a class or club or gym as this is a great way to make friends. This will surely help you gain confidence to ignore the bullies.
# Speak out
Talk to people about being bullied. It could be a friend, family member, teacher or counselor – it could be anyone you trust. Also, talking is a good outlet to let out your fears and frustrations.
# Self defense
It is a good idea to learn a few moves in self-defense just in case you have to fight out to save yourself. And should you need to use those moves someday, do it with all your strength and whole-heartedly. Remember, bullies are not used to someone else getting the best of them, so a strong kick in the groin can put them out of sorts, especially in front of others.
Having said all this, remember talking about being bullied and seeking help is extremely important. In addition, by talking out, there will be more people on your side and this might intimidate the bully to leave you alone.
Photograph via sxc.hu
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Dealing with bullying is a post from: mDhil
