How to Deal with Bullying

Each day there are students who have fear and anxiety about going to school. They have this fear and anxiety because of bullying.  Bullying is a problem that affects millions of students, and it has everyone worried, not just the kids on its receiving end. Yet because parents, teachers, and other adults don't always see it, they may not understand how extreme bullying can get.

Bullying is when a person is picked on over and over again by an individual or group with more power, either in terms of physical strength or social standing.

Two of the main reasons people are bullied are because of appearance and social status. Bullies pick on the people they think don't fit in, maybe because of how they look, how they act (for example, kids who are shy and withdrawn), their race or religion, or because the bullies think their target may be gay or lesbian.

Some bullies attack their targets physically, which can mean anything from shoving or tripping to punching or hitting, or even sexual assault. Others use psychological control or verbal insults to put themselves in charge. For example, people in popular groups or cliques often bully people they categorize as different by excluding them or gossiping about them (psychological bullying). They may also taunt or tease their targets (verbal bullying).

Verbal bullying can also involve cyber bullying — sending cruel texts, messages, or posting insults about a person on Facebook or other social sites.

So if you are being bullied what should you do?

The first thing you want to do is to let an adult know that you are being bullied. This would include parents, teachers, school administrators, coaches, any adult that you feel comfortable talking to.

Practice having confidence because the most confidence that you show the better off you will be. When bully's see that you are confident they tend to pull away and leave you alone. Bully's only pick with those who they think they can intimidate.

Don't blame yourself and don't beat yourself up. 

Believe in yourself and the courage that you have by returning to school each day.

Keep a journal and this is not so you can show someone but keep a journal so you have a record of what is going on and when it happened.

Stay calm by not showing the bully that you are affected by what they are saying or doing. The more you engage with the bully the worse the situation can become. Walk away and ignore!

We hope these tips help in dealing with bullying.

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