Bullying
A recent publication by Prof. Dawid Block on Bullying struck me deeply and made me realize anew that bullying has a tremendous impact on the emotional well-being of all people who go through it. Bullying is a huge topic that can start in school, continues during teenage years, on varsity, or happens later in the work environment.
Bullying can occur anywhere and in any form. I daily hear deeply reflected stories of bullying that have damaged many young children’s self-esteem and relationships of trust with others. Social isolation and loneliness at school (which should be a time of social development and exploration) are tragic consequences of bullying. Later years many Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) cases roots can be related to bullying at a younger age.
You Need To Know
Bullying is a form of abuse. It is repetitive, aggressive words or behavior intended to harm and degrade another person. Bullies thrive on their need to exercise power and control others.
What Are The Types Of Bullying That People Experience?
- Verbal: spreading rumors, gossiping, name-calling, belittling, threatening, and teasing.
- Physical: any form of physical harm, stealing or damaging other people’s property and hitting.
- Social: isolating, excluding from social activities, ignoring
- Psychological: intimidating, harassing, stalking, destroying self-esteem
Taking Steps Against Cyberbullying.
Technology allows bullies to harass others anonymously and victims may not even know who is responsible, which makes it even more terrifying.
Gossiping or saying things online while pretending to be someone else is a common trend among teenagers.
Taking inappropriate photos of someone, photoshoot them, and posting them online, especially on Facebook is humiliating for any person being a victim.
Cowards like to threaten someone by e-mail, text messages, or on social media because they do not have to face their victims.
Why Do People Bully Others?
Bullies seek negative attention and want to feel powerful.
Some bullies feel insecure and want to “show off” among their friends in the hope to be popular.
Others want to escape their problems or feel jealous and inferior toward their victims.
They thrive on creating an unbearable environment of hell for their victims and enjoy seeing the after effect on other people’s lives.
Being Bullied Is Not A Life Sentence!!
When you are bullied, you might feel as if your life is out of control. Feelings of low self-esteem hopelessness, loneliness, and depression are common. Even thoughts that life is not worth living, might occur.
You must move forward and seek professional support.
I will like to journey with you through the potholes on the path of your life to set yourself free from the bullies in your life. You will gain the necessary tools to build your self-esteem and confidence. It is important to identify and manage the emotions that bring you down and cause stress as well as depression in your life and thereby preventing the bullies from stealing your happiness and life quality. There are also ways in which you can become stronger to deal with social aggression and safeguard yourself from cyberbullying.
Studies have shown that young people who learn coping skills early in their lives are better able to navigate problems and bullies later in their life. People need tools to thrive at school, at home, in relationships, and at work! Mental resources are powerful!
If you have any queries, need more information, are worried that your child is bullied or experience bullying yourself, please do not hesitate to contact me! Leonora de Villiers 082 497 3765
