Nearly everyone is bullied at some time in their lives: by brothers and sisters, by neighbors, by adults or by other children. If you are being bullied, you may feel scared, vulnerable and quite alone but you owe it to yourself to try and sort out the situation so that the the bullying stops.
Remember, no-one deserves to be bullied. It is surprising that all sorts of people who are now very successful adults were bullied when they were young. It is encouraging to know that it is possible to succeed, in spite of being tormented at school. All of these well-known people were bullied at school: Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson, Tom Cruise, Michelle Pfeiffer, Frank Bruno and many others.
All of them feel that bullying is wrong and that it was not their fault, but the fault of the bully looking for a victim.

What can I do if I am being bullied?

 Anyone who is being bullied, or has witnessed bullying should tell someone about it. At school talk to a teacher, counselor, or principal.
Some schools ignore bullying but don't become resigned to being a victim. You can still help yourself and ask others to help you.

 Tell a friend what is happening. Ask him or her to help you. It will be harder for the bully to pick on you if you have a friend with you for support.

 Try to ignore the bullying or say 'No' really firmly, then turn and walk away. Don't worry if people think you are running away. Remember, it is very hard for the bully to go on bullying someone who won't stand still to listen.

 Try not to show that you are upset or angry. Bullies love to get a reaction - it's 'fun'. If you can keep calm and hide your emotions, they might get bored and leave you alone.

 Don't fight back if you can help it. Most bullies are bigger or stronger than you. If you fight back you could make the situation worse, get hurt or be blamed for starting the trouble.

 It's not worth getting hurt to keep possessions or money. If you feel threatened, give the bullies what they want. Property can be replaced, you can't.

 Try to think up funny or clever replies in advance. Make a joke of it. Replies don't have to be wonderfully brilliant or clever but it helps to have an answer ready. Practice saying them in the mirror at home. Using prepared replies works best if the bully is not too threatening and just needs to be put off.

 Try to avoid being alone in the places where you know the bully is likely to pick on you. This might mean changing your route to school, avoiding parts of playground, or only using common rooms or lavatories when other people are there. It's not fair that you have to do this, but it might put the bully off.

 Ask the bully to repeat what they said. This might put them off. Often bullies are not brave enought to repeat the remark exactly so they tone it down. If they repeat it, you will have made them do something they hadn't planned on and this gives you some control of the situation.

 Keep a diary of what is happening. Write down what details of the incidents. When you do decide to tell someone, a written record of the bullying makes it easier to prove what has been going on.

Who can I tell?
Usually it's difficult to end the bullying on your own or even with the help of friends. You should think seriously about telling an adult. It's the only way to get the bullying stopped.
If you need help, don't be embarrassed about asking. Everyone needs help sometimes and asking for help to stop bullying doesn't mean that you are weak or a failure.
Telling about bullying isn't 'telling tales'. You have the right to be safe from attacks and harassment and you should not be silent when you are being tormented and hurt.

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Deep Young Thoughts

From an actual newspaper contest where entrants ages 4 to 15 were asked to express Deep Thoughts.

I believe you should live each day as if it is your last, which is why I don’t have any clean laundry because, come on, who wants to wash clothes on the last day of their life?
-Age 15

Give me the strength to change the things I can, the grace to accept the things I cannot, and a great big bag of money.
—Age 13

For centuries, people thought the moon was made of green cheese. Then the astronauts found that the moon is really a big hard rock. That’s what happens to cheese when you leave it out.
—Age 6

I once heard the voice of God. It said “Vrrrrmmmmm.” Unless it was just a lawn mower.
—Age 11

I don’t know about you, but I enjoy watching paint dry. I imagine that the wet paint is a big fresh water lake that is the only source of water for some tiny cities by the lake. As the lake gets drier, the population gets more desperate, and sometimes there are water riots. Once there was a big fire and everyone died.
—Age 13

I like to go down to the dog pound and pretend that I’ve found my dog. Then I tell them to kill it anyway because I already gave away all of his stuff. Dog people sure don’t have a sense of humor.
—Age 14

Often, when I am reading a good book, I stop and thank my teacher. That is, I used to, until she got an unlisted number.
—Age 15

Think of the biggest number you can. Now add five. Then, imagine if you had that many Twinkies. Wow, that’s five more than the biggest number you could come up with!
-Age 6

Once, I wept for I had no shoes. Then I came upon a man who had no feet. So I took his shoes. I mean, it’s not like he really needed them, right?
-Age 15

If we could just get everyone to close their eyes and visualize world peace for an hour, imagine how serene and quiet it would be, until the looting started.
—Age 15

Recent statistics show there are about 10 million obese children in the United States, a figure that has doubled over the past 20 years. The National Institutes of Health says 13 percent of all children ages 6 to 17 are overweight.

Overweight teens who become overweight adults are at greater risk for developing a chronic disease, such as arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease , and high blood pressure, at a younger age.
Being overweight also can lead to low self-esteem. Many overweight teens isolate themselves from their peers and do not take part in outside activities. This can lead to even more weight gain.

There are many reasons why a teen might become too heavy. They include: an inactive lifestyle. In fact, a lack of physical activity may play a greater role in becoming overweight than eating high-calorie foods.
The rapid rise in child and teen obesity has mirrored the explosion of sedentary leisure activities, such as watching television, sitting at the computer, or playing video games. poor eating habits.
This includes skipping meals and frequent snacking. Much of what these teens eat are high in fat, such as pre-packaged and fast foods.

And, If one or both parents is overweight, the chance that a child will also grow up to be overweight goes up by 25 to 30%.

What to do. First, learn to eat a healthy diet and get enough exercise. For instance, reduce calories a little at a time. Stay away from high-fat, high-calorie snack and convenience foods, including fast foods and soft drinks.
Second, research shows that increased physical activity rather than competitive sports may be more effective in promoting weight loss. The weight loss itself then becomes the motivator. If you enjoy the activity you will be more likely to stick to it.
Studies have shown that nutrition education has some effect in improving adolescent health behavior.

A weight management program should:
-focus on healthy eating
-be self-monitoring
-provide social support
-encourage enjoyable physical activity
-encourage behavior change
-help the whole family, not just the teen, focus on making healthy changes to their eating and activity habits that can be maintained throughout life.

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HAVE YOU LOST WEIGHT?

Help others struggling with their weight! Nationally known author and registered dietitian seeks teens/young adults (ages 13-early 20s) who were overweight but who have purposely slimmed down to a "comfortable" weight and maintained it for at least 1 year.
Participants will be asked to complete a brief questionnaire about their weight experiences; some interviewed by phone. All info. used anonymously. (If under 18, parental permission required to participate.)

The book will be published by Houghton Mifflin. Those included receive a free copy of the book + a gift certificate for a CD of your choice.

If you or someone you know is interested:
Contact: Anne Fletcher, MS, RD (Author, Thin for Life)
Phone: 1-800-362-3147
E-mail: annemfletcher@aol.com
For more information: Click Here