Bullying is a behavior that hurts, harms, or humiliates a person. There are different types of bullying: active bullying which includes physical and verbal bullying. Passive bullying is when a person makes another one feel invisible, ignoring them or not inviting them to join a group. And cyberbullying consists in sending mean messages by text, email or over social media in order to hurt. Bullies take control of another person to make them feel bad and to make themselves look more powerful. It is a widespread problem and it can destroy our self-esteem and our physical health. Every day can be tormenting if we don’t do the right thing.
No wonder why the anti-bullying week was created. Awareness is essential. So here are some tips on how to deal.
You are not alone. Over 13 million kids are being bullied each year. Which is astonishing. Bullying is not your fault. It’s their problem, not yours.
Build your own support system. Surround with people who care and appreciate you for the human being you are. For example, when someone is bullying you, call them, tell them what’s going on. They got your back.
Bullies are nurtured by your reaction. So Ignoring them is a good option. Call your friend. If playing dead doesn’t stop them, tell them to please stop.
Laugh about the bully. Humor is healing. Don’t let them get to your heart. Instead, you can laugh about how ridiculous he or she is by having an unacceptable behavior. Remember: the best revenge is to be happy.
Get away from the situation ASAP. You don’t need to be their toy. The minute you don’t feel safe is the minute to walk away.
Always speak out. Find someone you trust and tell them what is going on. You don’t want to keep this to yourself because you feel embarrassed. In this way you are letting the bully get under your skin. Address the problem and remember that when shared you no longer have all the weight on your shoulders.
If you find yourself not being able to find a way out and the problem persists, it is time to look for a therapist. He or she will be able to guide you. Your therapist, just like your support team, is rooting for you and will give you helpful tools. You have the right to feel anxiety-free in a place where you attend five times a week.
Protect your personal space. If we think down about ourselves, our personal space gets smaller. If we think other people think bad about us, that also get’s it smaller. Put it together and respect yourself. Always. No excuses.
Bullies are people who were hurt and that’s why they hurt you. They got issues. And part of it is delivering it to you because they don’t know any better.
Don’t let them take anything away from you. We don’t deserve these people. We are so much better than that. Fight the situation.