Be Gone Bullying

I know I usually bring you light-hearted blog posts about my favourite makeup items or what I'm wearing my hair like, but today is a more serious post. Bullying is a serious issue that many people face, especially during their teenage years. It isn't something to be frowned upon or seclude the victim because of it, as we've probably all been bullied or know someone who's been bullied at one part in our lives. Today I plan on educating you about bullying and giving you ways to stand up to bullies. It may be hard, but you must remember that you aren't alone and there's always a solution.

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What is bullying?

The word bullying often gets thrown around too much and we find ourselves calling someone a bully just because they tease you or saying one sarcastic comment. So many people say that they know what bullying is, but is that really true? The definition of a bully is 'someone who uses superior strength or influence to intimidate someone or force them to do something. This superior strength might not be as in physical strength but could also be an advance in height, age, intelligence or social status.

Why do people bully others?

There are various different reasons why people might start to bully another. One of these is that the bully is having a hard time and has nowhere else to focus their misplaced anger or sadness. If they are feeling rejected by their parents or friends, they may start to bully others to take out all of their pain. Another common reason why people become bullies is because they have previously been bullied themselves, making them want to feel more superior and possibly put an end to them being bullied. Obviously there are many more reasons why people might be bullied, which you need to address before you can do anything about it.

What are the different types of bullying?

When we think of bullying, almost all of us will think of physical bulling, yet there are many other types that are equally as severe. Physical bullying is when they use physical actions to gain power and control, such as punching, kicking and hitting. This form of bullying is the easiest to identify, therefore receiving more attention than other forms of bullying. Verbal bullying is when words, statements and names are used to gain power and control, usually when the victim is belittled, demeaned and emotionally hurt. The targets of this are often picked by the way they look, act or behave. This is a hard one to identify as it often happens when adults aren't around, or the adults may think that it's not important compared to physical bullying. The other types of bullying are relation aggression, cyberbullying, sexual bullying and prejudicial bullying.

What can I do about bullying?

If you're being bullied yourself, one of the best things to do is talk to someone about it, whether that's your parents, a close friend or a teacher. They will be able to judge how serious it is, support you during tough times and have a further insight on what action you should take. To combat any sadness, anger, fear and isolation that accompanies bullying, you can try thinking of happy memories or reminding yourself of your good qualities. If you are being targeted by cyberbullying, save any texts or mean messages that they send you as proof, but don't give in and reply to them.

If you know someone who you think is being bullied, make sure you are certain they are before making any moves. Some of the most common indications that they're being bullied are lack of motivation, vagueness when talking about it, unusual behaviour and avoiding lessons or clubs they used to enjoy. If each one of these applies to that person, one thing you should do is talk to them. Don't be too direct and harsh as they may be quite sensitive, so instead be caring and calm. If they're being isolated, make them feel welcome with you and your friends, as this will also raise their confidence. If you think the person is really suffering or it is getting more serious, tell a responsible adult.

I hope this post has enlightened you on the topic of bullying and you should now know what a serious matter it is. If you ever need any more advice, help or just want to talk to someone about it, I'm always here. You can message me on Twitter @DaisiesDelights or email me at daisy.bradbury.x@gmail.com. Just know that you're never alone and that it can only get better from here. Stay strong.

Love from Daisy x