How to Overcome a Bully

Bullying is a form of abuse that involves one person's trying to overpower another. It can be physical, verbal or social, and recently a new form of bullying has joined the group, taking the form of "cyber" bullying, i.e., over the Internet. If left unresolved, bullying can have serious effects on the victim's life, such as depression, anxiety, and eating and sleeping disorders. Bullying can also cause a psychiatric injury and prevent a person from reaching his full potential. In a new review of studies in 2008 from 13 countries, researchers at Yale School of Medicine found an obvious connection between bullying, being bullied and suicide in children.

Instructions

• 1

  Realize that you are a victim of bullying. Just like dealing with any other problem, recognizing the problem is the first step towards finding a good solution. Once you reach this realization, you will understand that this is not a normal situation, you are not the cause of the problem, you are not being overly sensitive and that something needs to be done in order to stop the bully -- who often suffers from a disordered personality.

• 2

  Keep a journal and write down all the incidents of bullying you encounter every day. This will help you find out the patterns of the bully's behavior and will ultimately reveal his intent. Keep your journal in a safe place.

• 3

  Keep copies of all letters, emails or memos you receive from the bully. This can be priceless evidence of his behavior and will make it impossible for him to deny it.

• 4

  Report the problem to a person in charge and seek justice. Use all the information and evidence you gathered in your favor. If you ignore the bully, he will take this as a sign of weakness and will continue harassing you. Whether it is a family, school or a work bully, speaking up and providing evidence is the best -- and only -- way to stop a bully.