9 ways to deal with a bully

Here at Meaningful Minds we see many people become victims of bullying. You need to find the strategy that works best for your type of situation.

Here we share 9 ways to deal with a bully:

Protect yourself/ safety: If the bully is physically hurting you, try protecting yourself so that you are able to move away from the bully. Safety comes first!
Walk away or ignore the bully: Bullies try to gain control over people and their emotions. If you show the bully that you are not engaging in the power struggle, then you are taking away the bully’s power.
Be Assertive: Tell the bully that you do not like what he/she is doing and that you are not interested in that type of behaviour.
Report the bullying to an adult that you trust: Bullies become more aggressive if they feel they can get away with their actions. Adults can find ways to help with the problem without letting the bully know who reported them.
Focus on what you can control: We cannot control how people behave but we can control how react to people. Do not let the bully make you feel helpless. To defeat a bully, you will need to maintain your self-control and be proud of who you are.
Consistency is key: You need to report every bullying incident until it stops. The bully needs to know that you are not accepting his/her behaviour. No one deserves to be bullied!
Perseverance: Do not give in to the bullying even though it may seem overwhelming at times. Find ways to relieve stress and negative feelings in order to become more resilient. Exercise, meditation, muscle relaxation and breathing exercises are different ways to relieve stress.
Support: Remember that YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Surround yourself with people that love you and give you strength. You could also go speak to a counsellor or adult that you trust.
It’s about them: Bullies hurt people because they themselves are hurting inside. So if you are a victim of bullying try to remember that it is more about them then it is about you.