Coping Strategies
"How Do I Get Through The Pain?"
While adolescents may be at a loss for how to handle a bully, there are certain mental health aspects the victim can take into consideration to further improve the situation. These young adults are not only experiencing a significant amount of physical and cognitive changes but they are also expected to deliver their time and effort across so many different areas (e.g., sports, college preparation, family and, friends.) In order for these individuals to properly deal with their stressors, they need to learn what strategies are not only helpful but also beneficial.
Healthy Coping Strategies
A Dynamic Learning Experience
While this advice may seem easier said than done, it can have the capability of transitioning a victim's life completely around. The proper coping mechanisms that will be mentioned are encompassing several different objectives:
Improve the mental health of the victim.
Restore the confidence of the victim.
Eliminate the bullying or criticism to the highest extent.
Realign the bully's behavioral method's as well as improve any mental health deficits of the individual.
The first piece of advice that we have for children of parents that are faced with a bullying situation is to, take it seriously. Bullying should not be taken lightly and can produce detrimental results if the problem continues to persist.
The next set of coping strategies will be primarily for the individual that is being victimized. As mentioned before, this advice will take time and patience in order to implement correctly.
Use The Buddy System: When discussing coping strategies, nothing is more important than creating quality friendships. This closer kin support can be one of the most positive and uplifting coping strategies that we could offer. If the victim is having a difficult time with this piece of advice, we recommend joining a club or group in order to meet others with like-minded interests.
Act Brave, Walk away, Ignore The Bully: We understand that this coping strategy is very difficult, it is one of the most effective ways to relinquish a bully's drive to torment you.
Tell An Adult: Telling an adult has the reputation of being a "tattle tale." Although, when informing an adult, it should be an individual that the child feels comfortable with as well as someone who is willing to step in and address the problem to the school board and staff.
Talk About It: This last coping mechanism is one that goes hand in hand with the first piece of advice. Pain is much easier alleviated when an individual has the capability to open up to another and inform them of how they are feeling.
Lastly, one of the most important coping mechanisms is directed to regaining the victim's confidence. While bullying can reduce an individual's sense of self-worth, it becomes even more important for the individual to regain this self-esteem. One of the best ways to incorporate confidence back into a victim's life is by having a positive influence or role model. Although this can certainly be a parent or guardian, it does not have to be one or the other. The important aspect of this lesson is that the victim is regaining their confidence by discovering their self-worth from a loved one. (Lyness, 2013)