For those suffering bullying or cyberbullying, the effects can be devastating, leaving you feeling helpless, humiliated, angry, depressed, or even suicidal. And technology means that bullying is no longer limited to schoolyards or street corners. Cyberbullying can occur anywhere, even at home, via mobile phones, emails, texts, and social media, 24 hours a day, with potentially hundreds of people involved. But no type of bullying should ever be tolerated. These tips can help you protect yourself or your child—at school and online—and deal with the growing problem of bullying and cyberbullying.
How to deal with bullying or cyberbullying
There is no simple solution to bullying or cyberbullying or best way to handle a bully. But it’s important that you reach out for help and don’t try to face the problem alone. Talk to a parent, teacher, counselor, or other trusted adult. Seeing a counselor doesn’t mean there is something wrong with you.
Bullying or cyberbullying is rarely limited to one or two incidents. It’s far more likely to be a sustained attack on you over a period of time. So, like the bully, you may have to be relentless and keep reporting each and every bullying incident until it stops. There is no reason for you to ever put up with any kind of bullying.
If you are being bullied or cyberbullied, remember:
- Don’t blame yourself. It is not your fault. No matter what a bully says or does, you should not be ashamed of who you are or what you feel. The bully is the person with the problem, not you.
- Try to view bullying from a different perspective. The bully is an unhappy, frustrated person who wants to have control over your feelings so that you feel as badly as they do. Don’t give them the satisfaction.
- Don’t beat yourself up. Don’t make a bullying incident worse by dwelling on it or reading cyberbullying messages over and over. Instead, delete any messages and focus on the positive experiences in your life. There are many wonderful things about you so be proud of who you are.
- Learn to manage stress. Finding healthy ways to relieve the stress generated by bullying can make you more resilient so you won’t feel overwhelmed by negative experiences. Exercise, meditation, positive self-talk, muscle relaxation, and breathing exercises are all good ways to cope with the stress of bullying.
- Spend time doing things you enjoy. The more time you spend with activities that bring you pleasure—sports, hobbies, hanging out with friends who don’t participate in bullying, for example—the less significance bullying or cyberbullying will have on your life.
Tips for dealing with cyberbullying
Don’t respond to any messages or posts written about you, no matter how hurtful or untrue. Responding will only make the situation worse and provoking a reaction from you is exactly what the cyberbullies want, so don’t give them the satisfaction.
Don’t seek revenge on a cyberbully by becoming a cyberbully yourself. Again, it will only make the problem worse and could result in serious legal consequences for you. If you wouldn’t say it in person, don’t say it online.
Save the evidence of the cyberbullying, keep abusive text messages or a screenshot of a webpage, for example, and then report them to a trusted adult. If you don’t report incidents, the cyberbully will often become more aggressive.
Report threats of harm and inappropriate sexual messages to the police. In many cases, the cyberbully’s actions can be prosecuted by law.
Prevent communication from the cyberbully, by blocking their email address, mobile phone number, and deleting them from social media contacts. Report their activities to their Internet service provider (ISP) or to any social media or other websites they use to target you. The cyberbully’s actions may constitute a violation of the website’s terms of service or, depending on the laws in your area, may even warrant criminal charges.
Find support from those who don’t bully
When you’re being bullied, having trusted people you can turn to for encouragement and support will ease your stress and boost both your self-esteem and your resilience. Reach out to connect with family and real friends (those who don’t participate in any kind of bullying). If you’re new to a school or neighborhood or don’t feel you have anyone to turn to, there are lots of ways to making new friends. It may not always seem like it, but there are plenty of people who will love and appreciate you for who you are.
- Unplug from technology. Taking a break from your mobile phone, computer, tablet, and video games can not only give you a break from cyberbullying but also open you up to meeting new people.
- Find others who share your same values and interests. You may be able to make friends at a youth group, book club, or religious organization. Learn a new sport, join a team, or take up a new hobby such as chess, art, or music. Or volunteer your time—helping others is a great way to feel better about yourself and expand your social network.
- Share your feelings about bullying. Talk to a parent, counselor, coach, religious leader, or trusted friend. Expressing what you’re going through can make a huge difference to the way you feel, even if it doesn’t change the situation.
- Boost your confidence. Exercise is a great way to boost your self-esteem and reduce stress. Punch a mattress or take a kick boxing class to work off your anger in a healthy way.
Inverell Pharmacy at 132 Byron Street (next to Telstra) – your locally owned and operated pharmacy with more Pharmacists to Assist and Advise you back to Full Health. Phone 0267 223146