Is your teen being pushed around?: Signs of bullying in teens

Remember back when you were a teen and the bullies in school would give kids swirlies and push them into lockers? That left a huge mark on teens who were bullied. Nowadays, bullying is more than just physical violence and taunting at school. It follows kids back into the safety of their own homes, and when they’re out with their friends having a good time. Bullying in teens is pretty much inescapable. How do parents help prevent this from happening? First, you have to know what it looks like when bullying in teens is occurring.

What should I look out for?

Some of the signs of bullying in teens are hard to see because many teens try to hide what’s going on from their family and friends. However, there are some very noticeable signs, as well. These include:

1. Physical Complaints: This is one of the most obvious signs of bullying in teens. If your teen is complaining about headaches, stomach aches and unexplained cuts, bruises, or strains it might be a sign that they’ve been bullied. 
   

   

2. Acting Moody and Worried: If your teen is under great stress due to bullying, they may act out by being irritable and angry. They may also seem constantly worried because of what the bully is saying or doing to them.
3. Declining Schoolwork: If your teen is being bullied, they are probably very distracted from their school work. Having to face a bully every day during school can make your teen not want to go to school at all. Your teen’s grades might start to get worse and they might actually refuse to go to school.
4. Withdrawing from friends and activities: Often when teens are struggling with bullying, they remove themselves from everything they once loved, including friends and extracurriculars.
5. Difficulty Sleeping: Bullying in teens can cause teens to have nightmares and a lot of anxiety during bed time. Nowadays, a lot of bullying happens when your teen goes to bed at night. They’re up on their phones texting and going on social media. That’s when the bullies can lash out at your teen.

blueFire Wilderness Can Help

If your teen difficulties related to bullying such as depression, self harm, substance use, and school refusal, blueFire Wilderness might be the right fit for them. blueFire Wilderness, a wilderness therapy program for teens ages 11-17, helps teens struggling with emotional and behavioral issues find success.
For more information about blueFire Wilderness, please call 1 (844) 413-1999.