Tips for surviving bullying
"There is no solution to bullying or best way to handle a bully. It may take a variety of different responses to find the strategy that works best for your situation. To defeat a bully, you need to retain your self-control and preserve your sense of self."
With bullying on the rise in South Africa, the Roodepoort Police has issued some tips on how to deal with and overcome bullying.
A statement released by Captain Juanita Yorke, the police station’s spokesperson, stated that bullying is repeated aggressive behaviour that can be physical or verbal.
“Bullying makes one feel hurt, angry, afraid, helpless, hopeless, isolated, ashamed and even guilty that the bullying is somehow their fault. Some even feel suicidal. It also affects your physical health and people are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety or low self-esteem,” read the statement.
Below are some of the tips you need to remember if you are a victim of bullying:
*Never blame yourself. It is not your fault. No matter what someone says or does, you should not be ashamed of who you are or what you feel.
*You need to be proud of who you are. Despite what a bully says, there are many wonderful things about you. Keep those in mind instead of the things you hear from bullies.
*Always get help. Talk to a parent, teacher, counsellor or other trusted adult. Seeing a counsellor does not mean that there is something wrong with you.
* Walk away from the bully. Bullies want to know that they have control over your emotions, so do not react with anger or retaliate with physical force. If you walk away, ignore them or calmly and assertively tell them that you are not interested in what they have to say, you are demonstrating that they do not have control over you.
*Report the bullying to a trusted adult. If you do not report threats and assaults, a bully will often become more and more aggressive. In many cases, adults can find ways to help with the problem without letting the bully know that it was you who reported them.
*Repeat as necessary. In the same way as the bully, you may have to be relentless. Report each and every bullying incident until it stops.
*Find support from those who do not bully. Having trusted people you can turn to for encouragement and support will boost your resilience when being bullied. Reach out to connect with family and real friends. There are plenty of people who will love and appreciate you for who you are.
