How can you deal with bullying?

Abigail Zmiewsky

Why do people bully? What did I ever do? Why me? What did I do to deserve this? If you have ever wondered this, there are several reasons people can be so mean. 

   Psychologically people bully to get what they want or they’re just so deeply insecure that they feel the need to take it out on others. Bullying has always been linked back to power imbalances, which means if people aren’t getting the power they want, they will do anything to get it- such as bully. 

   Most bullies have no real reason to bully, but studies show that the main reasons people bully are that the bully feels powerless, they suffer from insecurity, they feel the need to control others to feel powerful, or just enjoy the attention they receive from others through bullying. And if you don’t think bullying is a problem in our little school, you are wrong. 

    “I feel like if not all my students are bullied, they feel like they are,” said Alyssa Thomas, Delta High  School’s behavioral therapist. She feels like bullying is a very relevant problem, “especially since students are being bullied and don’t feel comfortable telling someone because they feel the bullying will get worse.” 

    How can you deal with bullies? “I would say reach out to a staff member and let them know,” said Thomas. As much as bullying may emotionally or physically hurt, it’s never your fault. No one deserves to be bullied. Bullying will never stop if you don’t stand up. It may be hard, but stand up for yourself and others. Remember bullies push their own pain on you, so they may need some love. 

   The best way to get back at a bully is with kindness. You never know what people are going through. But that does not give anyone the right to bully you. Just remember whoever is trying to bring you down is already below you. “ The more self-confident you feel, the less it will affect you,” said Thomas.