Bullying is:

• Intentional, aggressive behavior

• Imbalance of power

• Repeated over time

• Physical, verbal intimidation

• Exclusion

• Cyber harassment
   

Warning signs that your child may be the victim of bullying:
 

1. Makes up excuses not to go to school

2. Is often angry, sad or depressed, withdrawn, self-loathing and emotionally erratic

3. Frequently hurt by a particular person or group of people

4. Frequently picked on in the presence of other people

5. Mistakes are turned into a big deal by someone

6. Belongings are often stolen or taken

7. Always being confronted with lies/rumors

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How parents encourage bullying in their own children:

• Exercise absolute control over child

• Threaten the child with spankings or other violence

• Attempt to humiliate or embarrass the child as a way to punish them

• Rule by fear

• Push competition and contest too much

• Teach their child that mistakes are unacceptable

• Tell their child what to say, do or think
   

If your child is being picked on by a bully, sit down with him or her and go over this list of Do's and Don'ts to keep them safe:
 

1. Don't get into a fistfight with a bully or try to retaliate in other ways.

2. Don't believe the insults about you.

3. Don't overestimate how much power a bully has over you.

4. Don't think that bullying will stop if you ignore it.

5. Don't waste time in places online where bullies target you.

6. Don't be afraid to think of new ways to solve the conflict.

7. Don't believe you deserve to be picked on.

8. Do get real about bullying and how it makes you feel.

9. Do get angry, but keep anger under control.

10. Do write down how you feel.

11. Do learn to say and believe good things about yourself.

12. Do speak confidently when telling a bully not to physically touch you.

13. Do work on developing at least one good relationship with a classmate, neighbor and/or older child.

14. Do walk or run away if a bully tries to hurt you.

Adapted from Jay McGraw's book, Jay McGraw's Life Strategies for Dealing with Bullies

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Narcissist

Do you think you could spot a narcissist? Could it be you or someone you know? Narcissistic personality disorder is a habitual pattern of grandiosity, a constant need for admiration, and a lack of empathy, beginning in early adulthood, and indicated by the following criteria. If any of these apply, you might have a narcissist in your midst!

1. A grandiose sense of self-importance where the individual exaggerates achievements and talents and expects to be recognized as superior without relevant accomplishments.

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2. A preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty or ideal love.

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3. A belief that he or she is special and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people or institutions.

4. A need for excessive admiration.

5. A sense of entitlement and unreasonable expectations of favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations.

6. Interpersonally exploitative and takes advantage of others to meet his or her own end.

7. A lack of empathy and unwillingness to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.

8. Envy of others or a belief that others are envious of him or her.

9. A demonstration of arrogant behaviors or attitudes.
 

(Source: DSM5) The above is provided for informational purposes only and cannot substitute for a full evaluation by a healthcare professional.

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