Children's Issues – Bullying
Bullying is the intentional behaviour of causing harm or distress, with the balance of power strongly in favour of the bully. The problem can begin during pre-school years and last into adulthood and can have long-term psychological damage. It is therefore an issue that should not be dismissed so readily. Causing distress, anxiety and depression, bullying is an unacceptable underlying problem to many adult conditions and fears and if addressed early on can cancel out its impact.
The problem with bullying is that it is out of the victim's control, the protagonist taking charge and meting out their vindictive behaviour at their own will. Bullying often takes place when the victim is alone and can be physical, emotional or verbal abuse aimed at an identifying characteristic that distinguishes the victim – such as race, height, weight or learning ability (both bright and slower-learning children experience bullying).
Signs of bullying
Telltale signs that your child may be being bullied include:
• A change in attitude toward school with more instances of truancy
• Unexplained cuts and bruises
• Missing dinner money or lost or damaged personal items
and clothing
• Increase in violent reactions to others with bullying behaviour passed on to friends, siblings or pets
• Sleep problems
• A new interest in weapons or self-defence
Recognising the signs is important as bullying can lead to depression, low self-esteem, poor academic achievement and in extreme circumstances attempts at suicide.
How bullying manifests itself
• Physical harm, including punching, kicking, pinching and threats of violence
• Verbal abuse such as name calling, spreading rumours and nasty comments
• Emotional stress including ridiculing, exclusion and humiliation
• Cyberbullying, when the internet or mobile phone is used to send text attacks or distribute cruel photos or rumours
How can hypnotherapy help?
Although hypnotherapy can not erradicate the bully, it can make the life of the victim more bearable, increasing the ability to cope better with bullying situations and reinstilling a sense of self-esteem and self-confidence.
A hypnotherapy session at the Bridge Clinic is a gentle process that could help your child resolve anxiety and
self-esteem issues that arise from being bullied. Hypnotherapy can help a child to learn techniques that enable them to remove obstacles that stand in the way of healthy development. Negative emotions and bottled-up anxieties are "blown away" to give the child a more balanced sense of self-worth and reduce their stress. |
