Bullies are everywhere, and they come in all shapes and sizes. They can be found on the school playground, in the neighborhood, or even in the workplace. It is important to stop bullies before they physically or emotionally hurt you or a loved one. Bullying is a very serious issue in today’s society and can even cause the victims to commit suicide or physical harm, so one must be aware of the warning signs of bullies, how to react to bullies, and how to help others ward off bullies.
Warning signs of bullies
Communication is the easiest way to learn to detect bullies. Talk to loved ones and your children to help them to understand that if others are making fun of them or picking on them, then that person could be a bully. Changes in eating habits and sleep habits can be signs that an individual is being bullied. Signs of depression can also act as warnings; these signs include running away from home, physically hurting themselves, unexplained injuries, lack of interest in friends, feeling helpless, and sadness or moodiness.
When someone blames themselves for their problems or acts differently than usual, it is important to talk to them and determine what is causing the change in behavior. Even the slightest of warning signs can mean that someone is being bullied, and even the least harmful types of bullying can have a hugely negative impact, especially on sensitive teens and children. Talk to your loved ones and open communication to gain an understanding and to help them.
How to react to bullies
The first step to stopping bullies is to know what kind of bully you are dealing with. Aggressive bullies physically abuse the victim without any hesitation, whereas taunting bullies will tease and name-call the victim through verbal abuse.
This is in contrast to cyber bullies, who attack via the internet and social media. Cyber bullies are the most common type of bully, as they can attack an individual through the anonymity of the mass public and not directly to the victim’s face. The best way to deal with cyber bullies is to delete them and not be affected. The victim should always show minimal reaction to the bully. This act does not encourage the bully to continue harming the victim and he will eventually leave him alone.
It is difficult to get through to an irrational person, so the best advice is to walk away and keep your dignity. Furthermore, the victim should not make jokes at their own expense when they know a bully is likely to see or hear the joke, as the bully could potentially chip in and lower the victim’s self-esteem even more. Stopping bullies can be extremely difficult, but it is vitally important to protect the victim.
Getting help
When the problem of bullying is detected, get help immediately. Do not wait around or hope that the bully goes away. Chances are, the bully will continue to be hurtful until permanently stopped, so always report bullying to an authority figure. Parents, teachers, guidance counselors, or any respectable adult are great sources of assistance and help.
Do not be embarrassed to be a target of bullying, as bullies oftentimes choose targets at random. Also, always get help for others if you witness bullying because a helpful hand can drastically improve the victim’s situation.
Bullying should not be tolerated by anyone. It is a very serious issue in today’s society and can have severe consequences for the victim, so if you are being bullied or know someone who is, get help today.
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