The teen years are full of challenges that can be difficult to navigate. Bullying has been around for seemingly forever but in our modern age, there is a wider array of platforms and methods to bully and be bullied. Parents, caregivers, and adults need to be aware of this and learn how best to support teens who are bullied and isolate and treat teens who are bullies. Fortunately, Venture Academy offers numerous, effective behavioural treatments to support teens and families. Social media and other modern conveniences have added to the public issue of bullying. While society previously dismissed the issue, bullying is now a serious problem with potentially life-long consequences. What are the effects of bullying, and why do they sometimes require professional help?
How Do We Define Bullying?
It’s an unfortunate fact, but many of us have experienced bullying either first hand or witnessed it. Yet, while we may be able to know bullying when we see it, it can be a challenge to define it. Bullying encompasses any action that’s intended to inflict emotional or physical pain on another person. It’s vital to understand that bullying isn’t just a physical action, it involves emotional manipulation, causing mental stress, and inciting others to inflict pain on another. However, bullying is not simply disagreeing with someone, arguing, or being rude or insulting. When someone bullies another, they are looking to exert power over them. A bully wants to make others feel less valuable and to see themselves (the bully) as superior. Often, this also entails demanding the bullied individual agree with or support the bully without question for fear of reprisal.
For adolescents and teens, being accepted by their peer group is a major part of their social lives. So much so, it can seem like the only important thing in a teen’s life. Thus, when bullying targets them, the physical, mental, and emotional damage is real. For young people who are still developing healthy coping mechanisms and social interactions, it can derail their progress and lay the foundation for future issues and problems. Whether referring to cyber-bullying or the more traditional form of the problem, bullying can encompass many different behaviours. In a time when internet addiction disorder is real, know how bullying happens online is necessary. Those who bully others can resort to:
- Name-calling
- Personal insults
- Manipulation
- Threats of bodily harm
What Are the Long-Term Effects of Bullying?
Some people consider name-calling and insults as typical adolescent behaviour. However, experts have discovered just how damaging these types of actions can be for teens.
For instance, experts who have studied the long-term effects of bullying believe that victims have a higher risk of taking up self-destructive behaviours such as smoking or substance abuse. Additionally, those who suffer from bullying are six times more likely to develop a psychiatric disorder at some point in their lives. Clearly, bullying is a serious public health threat.
The Importance of Seeking Professional Help
The teen years are challenging enough on their own. There’s no need for teens to also suffer through bullying alone. Individual counselling from behavioural health professionals can restore balance and peace to the entire family. Additionally, substance abuse counselling can be an additional effective treatment form for those who struggle with addiction.
Get Help Today
Venture Academy is a quality residential behaviour treatment center with several convenient locations throughout Canada. Specializing in helping troubled teens to make positive changes to their thoughts and actions, we offer in-depth treatment protocols that promote healing. Whether your teen is struggling with the effects of bullying, experiencing academic troubles, or exhibiting self-destructive behaviours, Venture Academy can restore peace to your family using an effective, multidisciplinary approach.
You don’t have to let the effects of bullying continue to plague your teen’s life. Call Venture Academy today at 866.762.2211 to find out how our troubled teen programs can help your family experience healing and peace.
