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What is it?
Bullying can be really upsetting if you’re the one being bullied. Most bullies are cowards though and pick on people for any reason just to make themselves feel better.
They can pick on you for any reason – you may be clever, have a disability, be really short, have different colour skin – there might not be any reason so they will come up with something that will wind you up and upset you.
It can leave you feeling scared, anxious and lonely and can make you feel like you are the only one this is happening to.
Remember IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT – SPEAK TO AN ADULT YOU CAN TRUST.
What type of behaviour is bullying?
Bullying can take many forms, such as:
• Physical bullying - pushing or hitting someone, damaging their things like their clothes, books or bike, stealing from them or forcing them to hand over their belongings.
• Verbal bullying - name calling, spreading rumours, nasty teasing, threats, insults. Sending nasty or threatening e-mails or text messages is also bullying.
• Emotional bullying - ignoring or deliberately leaving someone out. Making nasty remarks about someone's family or home life, or something they can't help doing. Always criticising or rubbishing everything they do. Making rude gestures or comments.
• Prejudice bullying - bullying someone because of the colour of their skin, their religion or their country of origin. Some people might be bullied because they wear glasses or a hearing aid, or just because they look different.
What can you do about it?
Did you know that nearly everybody has been bullied at some point in their life – some famous people are quite open about what happened to them as children and have gone on to become celebrities. People like David Beckham, James Cordon (Smiffy), Jonathan Ross, Kate Winslet, Sarah Cox and Jade Goody were all been bullied in childhood.
• Tell a friend or an adult that you know you can trust – sometimes just telling someone will help you feel a whole lot better
• If your School has an anti-bullying scheme then talk to someone at School and find out how it works
• Write down how you feel and what is happening so that you have some place to get rid of some of your feelings
• If you don’t feel like you can talk to someone then go on the websites like http://www.bullying.co.uk
www.kidscape.org.uk
Here you will find support and advice that might help you to talk to someone and deal with what is happening
Also try these things;
• Be kind to yourself
• Talk to friends and family
• Try and write up how you are feeling in a diary or in poems
• Listen to music that makes you feel good not worse
• Get out in the fresh air for a walk or some physical exercise
• There are people who you can phone even 24 hours a day –see below for contacts
• Try and eat regularly and not just junk
• Go and see your Doctor if things don’t get any better – you may need counselling or alternative treatment
Who else can help?
Talk to someone you can trust – they will want to help you – you’ll be surprised!
Sources of further information:
www.bullying.co.uk
www.rcpsych.ac.uk
www.youngminds.org.uk Tel:0207 336 8445 9.30-5.30
www.connexions-direct.com Tel: 080 800 13 2 19
www.childline.org.uk Tel: 0800 1111 24 hours a day
www.readthesigns.org
www.samaritans.org Tel: 08457 90 90 90
CONTACT YOUR TEEN LIFE
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