Teachers – learn about how this dynamic plays out and how to behaviorally control it. Kids who are being bullied – are too stressed to learn. And seriously – learning how to deal with bullies – is an important life lesson.
The question is – what are you going to do about it. First – understand – this is mentally draining and traumatic. Your response to this – isn’t blown out of proportion. It’s ok to respond the way you are.
Often what happens is that we allow the bully to get away with it and the bully is being rewarded by other people – who think his abuse is funny. The victim – by “playing along” is making that seem socially ok. After all – if the victim isn’t really being hurt – what is the harm.
This may seem strange to people who have not been victimized, but it’s hard not to feel responsible for what happens to yourself. And when someone violates you – it’s hard – not to take it personally. And people do.
