How can one support a friend or family member who is the one who does the bullying?
9 Answers
Last Updated: 08/07/2018 at 5:59am
Moderated by
Brenda King, PsyD
Psychologist
I treat life changes, women’s issues, and issues of aging using evidence-based treatments with healthy doses of warmth, empathy and humor to enhance healing and growth.
Top Rated Answers
Anonymous
January 18th, 2015 7:45pm
You can help them work through their underlying problems. You can listen to what they have to say. You can discuss options, discuss self-help guides, help them understand that what they are doing is hurting not only themselves, but others too.
When our family and friends turn out to be a bully it is important to try and open your loved one up to talking and express feelings that initiate bully behavior. Getting to the root of them problem may bot be easy or fast but it is our responsibility to each other to stick by their side through whatever each other need. Listening to them and asking questions about why they think they may behave that way is a good starting point. Try to see if you can help the person realize what is causing them to inwardly desire to put others down.
Anonymous
May 17th, 2015 2:52pm
You can not stop them from bullying completely, but you can guide them onto the right direction with a little nudge.
I would try to isolate what this friend or family member is trying to express. Maybe they feel like no one listens to them? Even if initially, they're being mean and hurtful, they might be speaking out that way because they personally feel rather alone or they feel like no one values their contribution. After all, attention is attention, and for a lot of people, whether it's positive or negative is irrelevant.
So, I'd consider taking this person one on one. Ask them how they're doing- make them feel valued. If they try to be nasty about other people, try redirecting the conversation to themselves. Try to bolster quality time with the person.
you can tell her that everything happens for a reason and god knows what he's doing
and also the people who bully her are not worth her tears.
Anonymous
October 25th, 2015 5:55am
Keep his/her spirit up. In times like this that person needs someone who will cheer him/her up and understand what he/she is going through.
Anonymous
December 28th, 2015 11:55am
Bullies think that if they hurt people it is going to make them feel better, bullies struggled a lot so you have to support them and talk to them because they are the people who suffer a lot in their lives
You can always ask them why they bully. But also try to really try to explain to them the effects bulling has on other people. No one should be bullied and no one should bully others.
Well first you have to let them know that you don't condone them with the regards to the bullying, but ask them if there is something they need to talk about help them find treatment.
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