What to do when bullying happens?

            Bullying is such a toxic behavior that it can be hard to process when it happens. One of the main points to keep in mind is that safety is a priority. Safety of the person bullying and safety of the person being bullied should be a priority throughout. To promote safety, it can be really important to make the bullying known to others. If other people can know that it is occurring, that can help prevent it from getting to an unsafe level. For example, if bullying occurs in the workplace and you let a coworker know that it is happening, they can help back you up and bring merit to it if asked.

            When you are bullied, it can be helpful to try and think about why the person is bullying you. Typically, a person bullies because there is something wrong in their own life.  Typically, they are trying to cover up and avoid the pain of what is going on in their life by taking it out on others.  If you can understand why someone is bullying, sometimes that can help you to address the issue.  Some bullies will not be open to that, but it can be worth a try if you are willing to do so and feel safe doing so.  

            It can be difficult to think about if you should confront a bully or avoid doing so.  Avoiding can sometimes be a good option if you feel like the bully will not continue.  Some bullies like drama and confrontation, so it is important to consider if confronting would be worth it or not.  It is really important when you first confront a bully to keep in mind being assertive.  Hopefully, assertiveness can help you stand up for yourself and help the bully understand where you are coming from.  If someone does not appreciate you for being assertive, then it can be helpful to be more direct and aggressive with your tone.  Do not get aggressive physically, but a more aggressive tone can sometimes get through to a bully more than a respectful tone.