Bullying is a pervasive issue that continues to affect countless adolescents worldwide. While it can manifest in various forms and settings, its impact on teenagers can be particularly detrimental, leading to lasting emotional, psychological, and even physical consequences. We need to identify the warning signs of bullying and take appropriate action to support individuals who may be victims of it as parents, educators, and community members. Here we'll delve into the complexities of bullying, explore its different forms, and equip you with the knowledge to identify its signs in teenagers.

Understanding Bullying:

Before delving into the signs, it's essential to understand what constitutes bullying. Bullying includes any persistently hostile actions meant to cause harm or fear to other people. This behavior can take on different forms, including verbal, physical, social, and cyberbullying.

1. Verbal bullying: This kind of bullying involves verbally abusing, hurting, or intimidating the victim. Examples include name-calling, insults, teasing, and making derogatory remarks.

2. Physical Bullying: Bullying that involves physical injury or threats is known as physical bullying. This can include hitting, punching, kicking, pushing, and other forms of physical aggression.

3. Social Bullying: Social bullying, also known as relational aggression, involves manipulating social relationships to harm or control others. This can include spreading rumors, gossiping, excluding someone from social groups, and sabotaging friendships.

4. Cyberbullying: Using social ties as a tool for control or harm to others is known as relational aggression or social bullying. It involves using digital platforms such as social media, text messages, or emails to harass, intimidate, or embarrass others. Cyberbullying can take various forms, including spreading rumors online, sharing embarrassing photos or videos, and sending threatening or derogatory messages.

Recognizing the Signs:

It might be difficult to recognize the warning symptoms of bullying in teenagers since they may not always talk about their experiences honestly. Nonetheless, there are a few warning signs that peers, parents, and teachers should be aware of:

1. Changes in Behaviour: Pay attention to sudden changes in the teenager's behavior, such as becoming withdrawn, angry, anxious, or depressed. They may also exhibit mood swings, irritability, or a reluctance to participate in activities they once enjoyed.

2. Physical Symptoms: Victims of bullying may experience various physical symptoms, including unexplained injuries, frequent headaches or stomachaches, changes in eating or sleeping patterns, and a decline in academic performance.

3. Social Withdrawal: Notice if the teenager begins to withdraw from social activities or isolates themselves from friends and family. They may avoid social situations or display signs of fear or anxiety when interacting with others.

4. Changes in Technology Use: When it comes to cyberbullying, keep an eye out for any intimidation or harassment in the teen's online behavior. This can include receiving a high volume of negative messages or comments, suddenly avoiding or deleting social media accounts, or expressing distress over online interactions.

5. Loss of Personal Belongings: Bullies may target their victims by stealing or damaging their personal belongings. Bullying may be indicated if an adolescent regularly misplaces or returns home with damaged possessions without providing a valid cause.

6. Unexplained Injuries: Keep an eye out for any unexplained injuries or bruises on the teenager's body. While accidents happen, frequent injuries with vague explanations may indicate physical bullying.

7. Academic Decline: The academic standing of a child might be adversely affected by bullying. If a teenager's grades suddenly drop or they exhibit a lack of concentration and focus in school, it's essential to consider the possibility of bullying as a contributing factor.

How to Support Teens:

If you suspect that a teenager is being bullied, it's crucial to intervene promptly and offer support. The steps are as follows:

1. Open Communication: Create a safe and non-judgmental environment where the teenager feels comfortable discussing their experiences. Tell them you are available to listen to them to provide support and encourage them to communicate freely.

2. Validate Their Feelings: Let the teenager know that their feelings are valid and that they are not alone. Reassure them that bullying is not their fault and that others care about their wellbeing.

3. Seek Professional Help: If the teenager is experiencing significant emotional distress or physical harm, consider seeking professional help from a counsellor, therapist, or mental health professional at TalktoAngel where they can provide additional support and guidance to help the teenager cope with their experiences. TalktoAngel is an online counselling platform that offers professional counselling services with the top psychologists in India, providing individuals with access to licensed therapists, counsellors, and who can aid in identifying and addressing bullying among teens.

4. Alert School officials: If bullying is taking place on school grounds, school officials such as teachers, counsellors, or administrators need to be notified. Come up with a plan of action together to address the bullying and ensure the safety of the teenager.

5. Encourage Empowerment: Teach the teenagers coping skills and assertiveness to equip them with the tools they need to handle bullying situations. Motivate them to assert their rights and ask for assistance when necessary.

6. Foster a Supportive Community: Create a supportive community around the teenager by involving family members, friends, and other trusted adults. Surrounding them with positive influences can help boost their self-esteem and resilience.

7. Monitor and Follow-Up: Keep a close eye on the situation and continue to monitor the teenager's well-being. Follow up regularly to ensure that they are receiving the support they need and that the bullying has stopped.

Conclusion:

By understanding the different forms of bullying and recognizing the signs in teenagers, we can take proactive steps to support those who may be experiencing it. Through open communication, validation, and collaboration with school authorities and other support systems, we can create a safe and nurturing environment where teenagers can thrive without fear of harassment or intimidation. Together, we can work towards building a more inclusive and compassionate society where every teenager feels valued and respected.

Additionally, you may schedule an appointment with the top professional psychologists and receive Mental health counselling at the Psychowellness Center, which has many locations in Delhi NCR, NOIDA, Faridabad, Janakpuri, Dwarka, and Vasant Vihar.

Contributed by: Dr (Prof) R K Suri, Clinical Psychologist & Life Coach &  Ms. Meghna Mohan, Counselling Psychologist

References:

• https://www.talktoangel.com/blog/bullying-examining-the-parent-child-relationship

• Singh, S., & Singh, S. (2022). Bullying among Indian School Going Children: A Review. Dialogues on Education, 11(4), Article EIJ2011000076. Retrieved from http://www.educationindiajournal.org

• Thakkar, N., van Geel, M., & Vedder, P. (2021). A Systematic Review of Bullying and Victimization Among Adolescents in India. International Journal of Bullying Prevention, 3(4), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42380-020-00081-4

• Srisiva, R., Thirumoorthi, R., & Sujatha, P. (2013). Prevalence and Prevention of School Bullying - A Case Study of Coimbatore City, Tamilnadu, India. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention, 2(5), 36-45. Retrieved from http://www.ijhssi.org

• Batchelor, K. (2013). Recognizing the signs: Reading young adult literature to address bullying. Voices from the Middle, 20(3).