October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month

Approximately one in five studentsexperience bullying on school property. Approximately one in six students is a victim of cyberbullying. In some scenarios, students can't escape bullying whether they're at school or home.

October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, and it's essential to understand this issue so it can be prevented. We've put together a brief guide on the key information you should know about this behavior and its causes. Let's explore the most important details.

Power and Control

The desire for power or control is one of the most common causes of bullying. This most often occurs when they don't have power or control in their own lives.

For example, a bully may have no privileges at home and lack a social presence. To help them feel in charge, they put others down and attempt to control them.

This behavior could involve physical bullying, but it could also be purely emotional. A scenario could involve a bully verbally abusing their victims at school each day.

Attention

Children or teenagers sometimes act out when they don't get the attention they desire. Bullying is a common way they do so.

Although it isn't a logical thought process, they believe bullying will help them become noticed or even become popular. This is especially common when the bully seeks to imitate someone they look up to.

An older sibling, relative, or fictional character could have similar struggles to the bully. If these individuals engage in problematic behavior, the bully is more likely to.

Self-Empowerment

Some people find that putting others down makes them feel good. They might experience a rush or high when they get someone to do what they want.

Those seeking self-empowerment will do what they can to stop someone else from succeeding. The more control they have over their victims, the more empowered they feel.

Jealousy

Bullying as a result of jealousy isn't uncommon. This can occur in numerous settings, such as within friend groups or relationships. For instance, someone might bully a new member of a friend group if they're getting too much attention.

A person in a relationship might feel jealous of people in their partner's life and begin to bully those individuals. Jealousy is often rooted in deep insecurity. Bullying won't resolve these feelings, making it a perpetual cycle of jealousy that leads to poor behavior.

Self-Resentment

Some bullies genuinely dislike themselves. They might hate their economic situation, the way they look, or their inadequacies.

Rather than improve these attributes, they seek to make others suffer. People who bully because of self-resentment often only feel good when they make other people feel bad.

Bullies Are Sometimes Bullied Themselves

This is one of the most common reasons bullies target their victims. When they are bullied themselves, it makes them feel powerless and angry.

To regain control over their lives, they behave this way toward others. This often involves bullying that occurs at home.

Someone might have a parent who frequently emotionally abuses them. By the time they get to school, they're ready to take it out on others.

Misunderstanding and Fear

Misunderstanding often leads to fear. When people feel afraid, they sometimes lash out at others.

This behavior is often associated with xenophobia. When people from other countries or cultures integrate into a community, some people feel afraid because they don't understand.

Regardless, bullies attempt to scare others to hide their feelings. By pushing away the source of their discontent, they never have to confront their fear. They might also use this as an opportunity to empower themselves.

Bullying and Mental Health

Bullying can cause long-lasting psychological damage to victims. This is especially true when someone is bullied at a young age.

The more often this behavior occurs, the more damaging it can be. There's a strong difference between someone bullied throughout high school and someone who was occasionally teased in middle school.

Bullying victims often have low self-esteem. It's not uncommon for them to blame themselves for why the behavior occurred. For example, let's assume someone is frequently teased about how they look.

They might begin to have thoughts like "If I didn't look this way, people would leave me alone" or "If I were different, maybe people would like me." These issues can persist into adulthood and cause further problems.

Unchecked emotional trauma could lead to having trouble connecting with other people. By extension, it could also affect the victim's friendships or romantic relationships. Bullying can also affect someone's academic performance.

When someone feels school-related anxiety, they might not prioritize their academic performance. They might also find ways to skip school to avoid being bullied.

Importance of National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month

Bullying can occur anywhere at any time. Raising bullying awareness can help people recognize this behavior and stop it, and it's one of the most important bullying prevention tips.

One of the most notable signs of bullying is unexplainable injuries. These are often bruises, scratches, and other signs of physical assault.

Lost or damaged possessions are also common. Serious signs include changes in eating habits and difficulty sleeping.

A bullying victim might also experience panic oranxiety attackswhen forced to confront their bully. In extreme cases, a victim could exhibit self-destructive behavior. They might run away from home or harm themselves.

October is a time for people to explore resources on anti-bullying activities and understand how they can help. Regardless of where bullying occurs, it's essential to speak up if you see it.

Children and teens should tell an authority figure. Those in charge should take the appropriate action if there's sufficient evidence.

Speak Up If You See Something

The best way to stop bullying is by saying something if you witness it. Left unchecked, this behavior can quickly spiral out of control. National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month can help you learn more about bullying and when to take action.

At Choice MD, we understand that finding a medical professional can be difficult. We're a community-based platform that can help connect you with the ideal professional for your needs. You canvisit this pageto start looking for a medical provider.