How to Stop Being Teased and Bullied

Teasing happens all the time. Teasing is fun when it is light hearted and not mean-spirited. Ongoing harassment and bullying is not so amusing, especially for the individual on the receiving end of the jokes. How the "butt of the jokes" responds often determines the length and severity of the teasing. Follow the steps to learn how to stop being teased and bullied.

Instructions

1. Realize the victim is teased because he gets upset. Understand that you make people tease you.

2. Be aware that tormentors look for weak spots, the things about someone that they feel bad about and information they do not want anyone to mention or notice. Realize that things you are most sensitive about usually involve some truth. Know that it does not matter whether the information is true or not but whether what is being said bothers you.

3. Change how you think about the teasing. Expect the teasing to eventually stop when you change your attitude. Learn to laugh at yourself. Demonstrate a difference in your attitude 100 percent of the time.

4. Refuse to become angry with them. Adopt the attitude: "If these people want to tease me, I am okay with that. They can do this all day and it does not bother me at all."

5. Realize you should do nothing to make the bullies stop the harassment.

6. Say something like, "It's okay if you call me names," or "You can do this all day if you enjoy making jokes about me." Expect this to stop them quickly. Make sure to you make your statement without any anger. Mean what you say when you say it.

7. Expect the bullies to get worse for a few days before it stops. Accept the fact that your reactions amused people in the past so they will try harder to get you to react again.

8. Ask, "Do you believe that?" of the person who tells you the rumor being spread about you.

9. Protect yourself against bullying that turns physical.

10. Resist the urge to get revenge.

Tips & Warnings

• The victim who does not resist the teasing wins because he removes the fun tormentors derive from teasing.

• Everyone gets made fun of occasionally.

• Have no fear of people.

• Do not ask your tormentors to stop teasing you.

• Do not tell an authority figure on them.

• Do not resort to name calling.

• Avoid physically abusive people or get others to protect you from them.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish