“I’m being bullied at my school but am too afraid to tell a teacher or friend for fear it might make it worse. What can I do to make them stop?”
A Note From The L.A. Teen Therapist
Click on the arrow above to watch the video. Read on to learn about dealing with bullies. – Sandra
There is a very old saying that goes “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” Of course words can hurt your feelings! But what this means is you have a choice over how you think about the words said about you.
The purpose of someone saying mean things to you is to upset you. My question to you is do you think what they are saying about you is true? If not, then make believe you don’t hear them and just walk away.
If the insult is about something true, try finding humor in it. Nobody is perfect, and we all have our little imperfections and faults. One way to get around the challenge of mean words is to turn them into a joke. “Hah, hah, very funny.”
Unfortunately, name calling is a very normal experience in childhood, which can continue into adulthood. Therefore, it is extremely helpful to develop a good sense of humor and be able to laugh about yourself.
The best way to make a bully stop teasing you is to not give the name-caller the satisfaction of seeing you upset. By taking away their sense of power over you, the game stops being fun for them.
Just know that the teasing may not go away immediately, as the bullies will continue test you to see if they can still make you react. The key to your success is to be totally consistent in how you respond.
*Note: If your teen is being bullied, I can help to empower them and turn the situation around. I invite you take that critical next step, and allow me to demonstrate the support I can offer to you and your family.
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For more information, please visit my website:
SandraDupont.com
Adolescent Therapist|Parent Coach|Teen Mentor
Providing service for: Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Beverly Hills, Beverly Glen, Culver City, Brentwood, Westwood, Marina Del Rey, Mar Vista, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Topanga Beach and Topanga Canyon, Ocean Park, Hancock Park, West Hollywood.