What is bullying and Is there way to stop it?

From humiliation to death threats, bullying has become an epidemic. Everyone knows it is a huge problem, and we all need to work together to stop it. But, how? Welcome to Stop Bullying Now series.

Everyone wants to believe that sticks and stones may break our bones, but words would never hurt us. We all know that’s not true because words can be just as harmful, or even more so than physical abuse. Bullying is a behaviour that includes a whole range of actions that cause physical or emotional pain. From spreading rumours to intentional exclusion, to physical abuse, bullying can take many forms and all forms cause harm or worse. Sometimes, it can be subtle that many children don’t tell their parents or teachers about it out of fear of shame or retribution.
Bullying negatively affects the social environment of an individual, creating an atmosphere of fear between and among his peers. People who are bullied may also carry the emotional damage of what they experienced for the rest of their lives. That is why it is important to put a stop to bullying now! If you are being bullied, there are so many things you can do to deal with the bully. If you witness bullying, there are so many things you can do to stand up for someone else.
Dealing with a Bully
First, stay calm.
It is the bully’s goal to get an emotional response out of you. So, do your best to keep calm and avoid showing them how you feel. Try your best not to show that you are angry, sad, or frightened. The bully may feed off of these emotions and increase their efforts. You can take a few deep breaths and think about something that makes you happy. It could be playing with your pet or having fun with your family. By doing this, you are allowing yourself to take a step back from the situation and avoid reacting to your emotions. Make sure that you keep your eyes open and maintain eye contact with the bully as you do this.
Then, ask the bully to stop.
If you don’t feel physically threatened, using direct, assertive communication and body language is a good way to address a bully. Look the bully in the eye when you are speaking to him or her. Don’t look down and don’t try to make yourself smaller. Pull yourself up to your full height, keep your arms at your sides, and your feet about shoulder-width apart. Then, respond to the bully calmly. Keep your request short and direct. For example, you might say, “Stop it, John.”
Remember, don’t compliment or insult the bully. If you say nice things to a bully after they have been insulting you, putting you down, or physically threatening you, then this will only increase their sense of power. Calling the bully names may only enrage them and increase their efforts to hurt you.
Or walk away.
If you feel like the situation seems threatening or dangerous, it is best to get away from the bully. Even if it is not a dangerous situation, always remember that you don’t have to listen to someone saying mean things to you. So, the best that you could do is to calmly walk away from the person. This will send a message that you won’t put up with this kind of treatment. Also, try to walk towards other people, such as your teacher or someone else who will not put up with bullying.
Next, report the bully
It is important to report bullying right away so that someone in authority can put a stop to it. Yes, sometimes, it’s hard to tell anyone about it but remember, telling someone that you are being bullied means standing up for yourself and showing the bullies that you will not put up with their abuse. Find a teacher, parent, guidance counsellor, or someone else who can help you and immediately tell them what the bully has been saying or doing to you. If you can’t do it personally, you can write a note to explain what is happening and deliver the note to your teacher, guidance counsellor, or principal. If the first person you tell does not do anything about it, then tell someone else. Don’t ever accept that you will have to put up with the bullying.

Standing up for someone else
Take Immediate Action
Take bullying seriously
Setting a Good Example

If you see someone getting bullied, stand up to the bullies. Remember, not participating is not going far enough. So, take a stand to prevent the victim from getting harmed further. Lastly, spread the word. Many schools have anti-bullying campaigns, you can join them. Or if your school has none, then, it’s time for you to start one. Spread awareness about the problem of bullying and participate in figuring out ways to solve it. Be the person who keeps the school safe and friendly. Always be kind.