Prior to Thanksgiving break, our class took on a rather tough subject for discussion; bullying. When people think of bullying most of the
time they think of physical abuse, when in reality bullying comes in many
shapes and sizes. Someone might recall a time in Middle School when they were
intimidated by a classmate or teased about insecurities. Bullying with words, is
still just as traumatizing as getting bullied with a fist. With the addition of
bullying, we also discussed key words and terms that go along with bullying. These
terms are important to understand, because they help us define how bullying can
psychologically hurt not only other individuals, but also ourselves.
The first key term is, trigger warning. A trigger
warning is something professors and others should give before discussing sensitive
material. For example: Before a professor lectures on sexual abuse they might
say this is a trigger warning subject. This way if anyone feels unsafe they can
dismiss themselves from class and discuss alternate options with their
professor. Individuals who have experienced traumatizing events may have a hard
time discussing the material and may experience flashbacks, have a strong emotional
response, or could have PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). It is important to remember that just because a
topic is not difficult for you, does not mean that is the same for everyone. Bullying
relates to this because we have to understand that everyone’s mental state is
different and should be accommodated for.
The next key word is, advocate. An advocate is a
supporter of a cause. However, these individuals are not only supports, but
also members that help represent a cause. Being an advocate means you are fully
emerged in the culture of the cause you are supporting. For example: I am an
advocate for student rights. I have gone to countless board meetings and events
to represent the student body, and advocate for a better learning environment.
I am submerged into this particular culture as an active member. The word
advocate is not to be confused with the word ally. An ally is someone who supports
a cause, but is not a member. They are a friend who encourages change, but is
not themselves submerged into the culture of it. An example would be if you
were a part of LGBT and had a friend who supported you. Your friend is not a part
of LGBT, but does support you and what you stand for. Advocates and allies
relate to bullying because they are a crucial part to stopping bullying. If
people advocate for positive change and keep strong allies, constructive change
will be possible.
The last term is, self-care. Self-care is when you
take time to rejuvenate yourself. Sometimes people can get so caught up helping
others or be so focused on a situation that they forget to take care of
themselves. For example: When my close friend Drake, passed away I had a hard
time dealing with it. I did not eat a proper meal in weeks, get any sleep, or
even take a good shower (I know it sounds gross). Since I spent all of my
energy focusing on Drake, I forgot to take care of myself. When someone finally
told me that I needed to get it together, the first thing I did was take a long,
hot bath. And sometimes that’s all you need is a little “me time” to get
yourself back up and running. Self-care relates to bullying, because it can
lead to your own mental instability. People never stop to think that we can be
our own worst bullies.
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