Is your teen struggling to blend in?
Being bullied at school can mean worlds of difference to a teenager who is merely struggling to blend in with the crowd. Not only does this kind of harassment bring more negative attention to the teenager which can make it even harder for him to fit in, but it may also aggravate any self-image issues your teen may already have. A bully can work on two different fronts. He may cause emotional distress by verbal abuse and harm your teen’s body through physical abuse. Each of these fronts has their own particular adverse effects on your teen.
Wounds to the mind
Wounds to the mind can have significant bearing on your teen’s self-concept. When your teen experiences verbal abuse from a peer, the demeaning remarks that are thrown at him can ultimately cause your child to think less of him self. For an adolescent who is dealing with the many mental, social, and physical changes that come with this stage of growth in his life, it may be very easy to be affected by the negative remarks of another.
Your teen is just beginning to form a strong sense of self and personal identity and it is fragile to the manipulation of others. The significant difference in the effect of bullying on your son or daughter as a kid then and as a teenager now, lies in the way your adolescent deals with the emotional distress this harassment causes. When your son or daughter was just a kid, he or she may have reacted to bullying by simply crying or going to a teacher or parent to tell on the perpetrator. But things get quite more complicated once he or she is in high school.
A teenager is very much preoccupied with image during this period, and his inability to control the situation he is placed in can definitely appear ‘uncool’ in the face of his fellow teens. Because of this, he may be hesitant to reveal to others that he is being bullied. This may be a definite cause for concern as the harassment escalates without anyone knowing. He may feel alone and develop depression.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse has its obviously urgent effects on your teen’s well-being. If he or she is subject to severe physical harassment then the signs of abuse will be difficult to hide. He may be coming home with black eyes and bruises. This type of abuse can leave your teen feeling physically and emotionally weak. Your child may feel particularly shameful of his wounds. If physical abuse is involved it is important for urgent intervention to take place once you are aware your teen is a victim of bullying.
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