We all are humans and yes things hurt us. Sadly most of the times it is due to someone intentionally hurting and wanting to make life hell for us. Bullying comes in different forms. You think that once you are done with the school, your life with bullies is over. Sorry, but that couldn’t be farther than reality. Few people never seem to grow out of their “want-to-hurt-that-person” attitude at all. You will face them on every path of your life. Be it at the workplace or not so friendly neighbours or sometimes even your own relatives. You will find them everywhere. Let us first know some forms of bullying.
- Physical Bullying
As the name mentions it has anything and everything to do with getting physically abusive. It is a forceful invasion of personal space by another. It can range from pinching to extorting sexual favors.
- Verbal Bullying
Again, you can already get an idea from the name itself. It includes passing mean comments, insulting, teasing, intimidating, racist remarks and more of the kind. It can start off as harmless jokes but that can soon escalate to more offensive comments which can hurt the person who is made into a joke.
- Social Bullying
This is when someone intentionally maligns the person’s social life by spreading rumors, mimicking unkindly, making rude facial gestures, playing nasty pranks, humiliating in public, encouraging others to exclude someone and more. Usually, when we enter teenage phase, social acceptance really matters and then being targeted specifically is like you are telling the kid that their existence is a nuisance.
- Cyberbullying
This is one of the most trending bullyings as the identity of the persons hidden. It includes sending abusive texts or emails, leaking of private information, excluding someone from the online community, intimidating online, spreading nasty rumors. Basically, it’s bullying on a digital platform.
So now that you know what bullying is (It isn’t limited to just above mentioned, they are few of many – Bottom line is, it is anything which someone intentionally hurts you in any form)
At the end of the day, you suffer from all that harassment to a point where you even hate yourself and think that you deserve it. Well, let me tell you this, NO ONE, NO ONE could be more special than you because you are one a kind. You have been fantastically brave to endure all of it and not let it take your life. We all know how dreadful that feeling is where you have no control over what’s happening and you have no choice but to let that person trample over you.
Some might have already faced it and but are still dealing with its post effects like nightmares, having a hard time socializing without fear. I cannot guarantee you that your life will magically be free of all the issues suddenly but I can give you one guarantee that when you get over it you will realize how strong, brave and capable you are.
(Sincerely hoping they help)
- Take a stand
The world is cruel. No one is going to take a stand for you or come to your defense if you don’t do it for yourself. As they know if they got involved they would have to suffer the implications of it. So they rather stay away and watch quietly. The only person who can and is capable enough to defend you is you yourself. So next time bullying happens, take a stand and say NO. You can do this!. Not going to lie to you about this it will take time for you to gather up courage and fight back but know that only you alone can get yourself out of it. And also when you do take a stand, the tables get reversed, the bully will embarrass themselves rather than you.
- Tell someone who can help
Bullies tend to gang up on you rather than have a face-off alone. Sometimes fighting back is not enough. At times, intervention from someone who can help is necessary. You can tell your senior who you are friends with or family. If no one understands or walks away from you then there is one place where you can seek help and you will never be turned away. That is the counseling help in UNI hospital if you’re a student at LPU. You can bear your heart out there and no one will judge you for it and provide adequate help to get you out of the mess and of course, they will also help you with the post bully effects. (You can confide in your HOD or Mentor if you are comfortable enough).
- Channel your pain and anger into something productive.
I am pretty sure most of you are aware of Britain’s Got talent show. One of the contestants were two brothers who rapped and sang their own song. They were hardly in pre-teens. They got a standing ovation from the judges and the audience. Why? Cause their song was about the hardships the younger brother faced while being bullied. Those kids could have let bullying pull them down. Instead, they used it as a stepping stone towards their goal. You got to do just that. Pain and suffering won’t leave you in a day. Hence you need to channelize your pain to be a driving force to do something which will take you one step closer to your dream.
