Hi Zah Geo. First off, I’m so sorry that you have to go through this, but I’m really glad that you have reached out. This takes guts and tells me you are ready to do something about it. Way to be brave!
Bullying is something that takes many shapes and forms. Bullies bully because they want to coerce and control you, as well as wanting to ‘test’ your boundaries. It is incredibly important for you to know that you did not cause the problem and that you should not try to solve the problem alone. So, I’m going to ask that you talk to a trusted adult to help you put a plan together. I imagine that this has been going on for a while, which means it might take a while to stop.
Here are some immediate things you can do if you are being bullied:
- Look at the girl bullying you and tell her to stop in a calm, clear voice.
- You can also try to laugh it off. This works best if joking is easy for you. It could catch the girl bullying you off guard.
- If speaking up seems too hard or not safe, walk away and stay away. Don’t fight back. Find an adult to stop the bullying on the spot.
There are things you can do to stay safe in the future, too.
- Talk to an adult you trust. Don’t keep your feelings inside. Telling someone can help you feel less alone. They can help you make a plan to stop the bullying.
- Stay away from places where you get bullied.
- Stay near adults and other kids. Most bullying happens when adults aren’t around.
- Talk to someone. Talk to someone you trust like a parent or friend, or you can talk with the school counselor or a teacher. You can also click here for more resources, or check out www.stopbullying.gov.
I’ll be thinking about you Zah Geo. Best wishes.
Love,
Auntie Manda
