Remember that the bully’s mocking you is a reflection of the bully, not of your worth as a person. This person is having their own problems and is wrongly taking them out on you. For example, you could say, “I see that mocking me makes you feel powerful and in control,” or “I understand that you feel better taking your anger out on me rather than confronting your problems. " You could also say, “I see that you’re making fun of me, and it’s not funny. “[1] X Expert Source Katie StyzekProfessional School Counselor Expert Interview. 25 November 2020. Think of yourself as a therapist trying to understand your bullies issues.
Take a deep breath and count to ten. [5] X Research source Focus on your breathing to get through the moment. [6] X Expert Source Katie StyzekProfessional School Counselor Expert Interview. 25 November 2020. Think about your happy place and concentrate on your breathing. Think about how someone you admire would handle this situation and try to imitate that.
Stand up straight and walk slowly. Running away tells those mocking you that they have gotten to you.
Slap your knee and really exaggerate how funny you think their comments are. Say something like “that’s a new one” or “that’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all day. ” Say something like “that’s enough” or “quit being rude. ”
You can also imagine a brick wall between you and those mocking you that is deflecting their comments.
Say something like “wow, did you come up with that all by yourself” or “pardon me, but you seem to think that I care. ” Try the “Yes, and…” technique. If someone is giving you a hard time about something just respond by acknowledging their teasing and then inserting a joke. For example, if someone zings your new haircut by saying “Nice haircut. Joining a punk band?” You can reply with “Yeah, and tomorrow I’m piercing lips, nose, and mouth. ”[11] X Research source
For example, if you are being mocked about wearing a hat they consider “weird,” you can respond by saying “yeah, it looks weird but you have to admit that it’s pretty cool. ”
Try to walk away confidently and calmly. This will convey to the people mocking you that their words have not hurt you.
Remember that two wrongs do not make a right. Matching your bully’s mean comments with your own can escalate the situation and lead to a fight.
If your friends are the ones mocking you, they might not be your friends. You should talk with them about their behavior.
Learn your bullies schedule and determine routes that will keep as much space as possible between you and them.
Be sure to tell the authority figure exactly what happened. This will help them better understand how to help you out. If you are a kid, talk to your parents or a teacher about the problem.
