Bully
Bully
Written By: Navienisha Muniandy (Intern)
Verified By: Shaundtrya Ganasan, Licensed Counselor (KB11097)
What is bullying?
Bullying is an act of aggressive behaviour that is deliberate, repeated, and comprises an imbalance of power or strength.
Bullying can also occur in various environments, including schools, workplaces, and virtually. Moreover, bullying can have major consequences on the mental health and well-being of the individuals involved.
Common Type of Bullying
Undeniably, bullying branches in various forms. Below are some commonly known types of bullies.
Physical Bully - Physical actions like slamming, punching, or pushing to frighten others.
Verbal Bully – Words to harm, humiliate, or insult the victims. It also involves name-calling, mocking, or making threats.
Cyberbullying – Harassing, threatening, or shaming others via digital platforms like social media, messaging applications, or online chat rooms. Therefore it involves circulating rumours, making unpleasant remarks or images, and impersonating someone.
Social/ Relational bullying - Ruining other individual's social connections or reputations. Involves passing on rumours, excluding others, or twisting things to bring down the targets.
Prejudicial Bullying – Targeting someone because of their colour, race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, or other traits. Their behaviour may also be influenced by prejudice and discrimination.
Reminder: If you or your loved one are struggling with bully-related issues, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at Soul Mechanics Kota Damansara or Ipoh.
Remember, seeking help is not a sign of weakness but strength!
Factors Behind Bullying
Wanting Power and Control
Some individuals bully others so that they can feel strong or in control over everything. These individuals might have poor self-esteem and, therefore, engage in bullying to improve their sense of worth.
Copying Behaviour
Young children and teens might also bully others as a result of observing adults or peers participating in bullies. They may be unaware of the consequences of their behaviour and may bully others in an attempt to replicate observed behaviours.
Lack of Empathy
Some individuals might find it difficult to empathize with others or realize the severity of their actions. This might result towards inconsiderate or cruel behaviour towards others.
Experiencing Bullying Themselves
In certain situations, individuals who may have experienced bully in the past might bully others to regulate the previous helplessness or to take back lost control.
Desire to fit in
Some individuals also bully others to win acceptance or favour from a particular social circle. They may assume by following the group, they can maintain their social standing.
Personal Issues
Moreover, individuals suffering from personal issues or suppressed emotions may lash out at others as a coping mechanism; possibly resulting in verbal bullying.
The Other Side of Bully
Fear of revenge
Some individuals can be reluctant to speak out against bullying as they fear being the next victim or being retaliated against by the bully or their followers.
Bystander Effect
In the scenario of bystanders, many of us may think that someone else would help, leading to watching the bully instead of providing needed assistance.
Peer Pressure
Some might be forced to engage in bullying behaviour to fit in with a particular set of groups or to prevent being the target of bullying.
Feeling Powerless
Some individuals may consider themselves helpless to make a difference or stop bullying, so they avoid getting involved.
Bullying Impact on Mental Health
Anxiety
Victims of the bully may experience higher anxiety levels, such as social anxiety, generalized anxiety, or panic attacks.
Depression
Bullying may also cause intense emotions such as sadness, helplessness, or feelings of being worthless; possibly leading one to experience depression.
Low Self-esteem
Continuous criticism, mocking, and isolation may undermine a person's confidence; affecting their sense of self-worth.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Bullying can cause one to experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with varying symptoms such as nightmares, flashbacks of events, and heightened alertness.
Suicide thoughts
Being bullied can also create distress within one; leading to suicidal or self-harming thoughts.
Educational and job-related problems
Bullying can impair an individual's capability to focus, perform well in school, or excel at work.
Social challenges
Victims of bullying might also experience difficulty forming and maintaining connections, resulting in feelings of being isolated and alone.
How to support bully victims?
Counselling
Counselling can help victims of bullies or the bullies themselves to process their feelings and understand their triggers and roots behind them. It helps them to establish healthy coping skills.
If you’re looking for a therapist in Kota Damansara or Ipoh area, you can click here for more information.
School-Based Support
Bully guidance programs in school can provide both students and parents a safe space to seek assistance; cultivating a empathetic community. Furthermore, trained school staff such as school counsellors can address and intervene bully issues more healthily and harmoniously.
Legal Support
This type of support is much required and needed during situations of extreme or ongoing bullying. Legal support organizations or attorneys with expertise in cases of bullying can also offer advice on legal choices and rights.
Parental Support
Undeniably, parents play an important role in helping their children who are being bullied or being the bully themselves. Parents can take up the role of providing their children with emotional support, process their underlying issues, and establish effective coping skills.
SM’s Takeaway
If you've experienced bully or been a bully, it is important to process the emotions that you have when through. Therapy can be a beneficial approach in assisting you to understand and process the underlying, and manage the effect bully has on you more healthily. Remember, getting help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
“Let us break the silence, eliminate the stigma, and embrace the road towards improved mental health. You deserve to be heard, recognized, and guided on your path of healing. Together, we can make the world a more compassionate and inclusive place for all."
If you’re looking for a therapist in Kota Damansara or Ipoh area, you can click here for more information.
If you enjoyed reading this, why not broaden the horizon of knowledge by learning about "Emotional Triggers"?
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