How to Handle Bullies

Table of Contents

Introduction

Bullying is a serious problem and can cause people to feel scared, alone and like they have no control over their own lives. But you don’t have to be a victim: there are ways to deal with bullies so that you can stand up for yourself without resorting to violence or retaliation. Bullies thrive on making other people feel powerless, so it’s important for victims of bullying not only to empower themselves but also help bullies see how their actions affect others.

Let them know it’s not okay.

It’s important to let them know that you don’t like what they are doing, but it’s not okay for them to bully you. You should be polite and firm, but also keep in mind that being assertive does not mean being aggressive. For example:

“I didn’t like it when you called me names.”
“That wasn’t funny.”
“Stop picking on me!”

Stay calm, assertive and matter-of-fact.

There are a few things to keep in mind when dealing with bullies. The first is to stay calm, assertive and matter-of-fact. Don’t let them get to you, don’t let them see you get upset, don’t let them see you cry, don’t let them see you lose your temper (even if they’re asking for it), don’t let them see you get scared and most importantly: don’t let them see that they’re getting under your skin!

If this advice sounds familiar then it’s because it’s the same thing we tell our kids when they face their own bullies at school. It can be difficult sometimes but the key here is not to give up or give in no matter how hard the situation becomes – because there really isn’t anything worse than giving into a bully and letting him/her win!

Put the ball back in their court.

When a bully is trying to get under your skin, it’s tempting to engage them. After all, when you respond to their insults with a smart comeback or an insult of your own, you feel like you’ve succeeded in getting them back for what they did—but this isn’t always going to work out as planned. If you try fighting back with words and actions that are equally hurtful and negative, then the bully will become even more aggressive towards you because they know they can get away with it. Your behavior is only encouraging them further in their attacks! You need to put the ball back in their court by ending the conversation before things get out of hand. There are many ways for doing this:

Change the subject – “Hey guys! Did anyone see how high I jumped yesterday during gym class? That was ridiculous! Anyway…” This puts attention on something else besides yourself so that nobody has anything else left but finding something else interesting about themselves instead of focusing on any possible weaknesses others may have been showing off earlier (which would include not being able to keep up). It also prevents further discussion about who said what first; nobody really wants anymore drama than necessary–especially since we’re all human beings here!”

Use your words and don’t rely on emotions when you talk to them.

Use your words to express how you feel. When you’re trying to communicate with a bully, it’s important to use your words and not rely on emotions. This can be difficult, but it’s necessary if you want to get your point across clearly. A calm, assertive tone is best for this type of situation–and remember: don’t let them intimidate you!
Use a matter-of-fact tone when talking about their behavior. You don’t need to scream at someone or be rude in order for them to hear what you have to say; just speak in a friendly voice and explain exactly what they’ve done wrong without raising your voice or getting emotional yourself. It helps if they know that there are consequences for their actions (if possible), so make sure that whoever else is listening knows this as well!

Use technology to deal with bullying.

If you’re being bullied at school, there are ways to get help. One way is to use the school’s email system and send an anonymous complaint about your situation. You can also use social media sites like Facebook and Twitter to report what’s going on.

If you have a cell phone, some apps allow users to report bullying incidents directly from their phones. Finally, if you’re feeling brave enough, there is also a web app called Stopbullyingnow where people can share their stories and ask for advice; although this isn’t something most people would want to do unless they were desperate.

Talk to someone you trust, like a parent or teacher.

When you’re the victim of a bully, it can be tempting to keep your feelings bottled up. But doing so means that no one will know what’s going on with you and your situation, which may lead to more trouble in the future. Instead of keeping quiet, talk about what happened (in great detail) with someone who can offer some advice on how to deal with it—whether they’re an adult like a parent or teacher or another kid who has been through something similar. Don’t be afraid to ask for help!

Remember that bullies are insecure, too.

Remember that bullies are insecure, too.
Don’t take their words personally or let their actions get to you. They may be dealing with a lot of problems at home or at school and feel like this is the only way they can get attention.
Bullies usually have low self-esteem and are looking for someone weaker than them to give them power over, so if you show confidence in yourself, it will make them realize that maybe what they’re doing isn’t working so well after all.

Bullies really do have problems of their own and being kind or compassionate can actually help them see right from wrong.

If you’re dealing with a bully, they may just be feeling lonely and trying to make themselves feel better by making other people feel bad. They probably aren’t doing it because they want to, but it’s the only way they know how.

It’s important to decide what you’re going to do before you start talking with them because bullies are usually very good at arguing and changing their minds about things as soon as someone else points out another point of view (which is why talking about bullying in class won’t often work).

Conclusion

There is no doubt that being bullied is a painful experience. But, as we’ve seen here, there are ways to handle it and get out of the situation for good so that it doesn’t happen again. Remember to stay calm, assertive and matter-of-fact when you talk with bullies or deal with them online. Also, if things don’t improve after talking directly with your bully then consider telling a trusted adult such as a parent or teacher so they can help you find solutions together!