Bullying and Abuse
What is Bullying?
Bullying is making fun of, putting down or threatening another person. Sometimes it involves hitting or shoving. It is done on purpose, and it’s often done over and over again.
Why do people Bully?
Bullies are usually victims of bullying from the past. They bully others to feel powerful, popular, important, or in control.
Some bullies think their behavior is normal because their families regularly get angry, shout, and/or calls names. They copy this behavior because they think it’s normal. And just like the children they're tormenting, bullies often have low self-esteem.How does Bullying Hurt?
People who are bullied feel unsafe. They can also feel afraid and lonely. They may not understand why they are being bullied.
Here are some ways to tell if someone is being bullied:
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Inventing mysterious illnesses to avoid school·
Missing belongings or money·
Sleeping problems·
Bedwetting·
Irritability·
Poor concentration·
Unexpected changes in routine·
Problems with schoolworkJust like with abuse, these changes don’t mean that there is definitely bullying going on so don’t jump to conclusions.
What can you do?
You’re a victim if someone bullies you. You need to tell an adult you trust and get help.
You’re a bystander if you see someone being bullied. You need to help the victim tell and get help. You need to show others that bullying is unacceptable.
You’re a bully if you make fun of, put down or deliberately hurt someone. Ask someone you trust to help. It takes courage to stop being a bully.
What is abuse?
Abuse is when you treat someone in a harmful, injurious, or offensive way, whether it is physically, emotionally, or sexually.
The different types of abuse:
Physical Abuse is when someone physically hurts another person. This consists of hitting, slapping, punching, kicking, burning, hair-pulling, choking or cutting another person. There are often times signs left behind such as bruises, burns, and other scars. Sometimes people try to hide their wounds with clothes, makeup, sunglasses, or other ways.
Emotional Abuse is when someone uses constant insults, criticisms, and other hurtful words that make a person feel bad about themselves. The abuser might tell victims they’re fat, ugly, worthless, or will never amount to anything.
Sexual Abuse is when someone is forced to do something sexual against their will. This can include anything from inappropriate touching, forceful sexual intercourse, to forcing someone to watch pornographic movies. Sexual abuse can even happen among family members.
How do you know if someone is being abused?
It’s not always easy to detect. Since some people try to cover and hide the abuse rather than get help, it’s harder to know for sure if they really need your help. Sometimes people are too afraid to talk about it with others or they might think it’s wrong to discuss it. Some people might still believe their relationship is great even though the abuse exists. Here are some signs that there might be abuse:
Do you notice any bruises or marks on this person? If you do and ask them about it, does the person have lame explanations like saying "I fell"?
Is this person spending little to no time with friends?
Does this person seem easily started and jumpy?
Does this person seem really tired like he/she hasn’t gotten enough sleep?
Did this person suddenly change his/her appearance? Did they dress well and now dress kind of drab?
Is the person always watching the clock, calling to check up with someone, again and again, in a short period of time?
Did the person suddenly quit after-school activities?
These are just some indicators of abuse. However, these don’t guarantee that there is abuse going on. Some of these maybe signs of new relationships, or a change of hobbies, or the person may be going through personal changes. So while it’s good to watch for these signs, remember not to jump to any conclusions.