To help you get started, read the material below to make a difference in your health your life. Please know two things:

• You are not alone
• You did not cause bullying to happen

Bullying is a systematic campaign of interpersonal destruction that jeopardizes your health, your career, the job you once loved. Bullying is a non-physical, non-homicidal form of violence and because it is violence and abusive, emotional harm frequently results. You may not be the first person to have noticed that you were bullied. Check to see how many of these indicators match yours.

Remember, you did not cause bullying to happen. We've broken down major reasons why bullies bully. The main reason bullying occurs so frequently in workplaces is that bullying is not yet illegal. Bullying is four times more common than either sexual harassment or racial discrimination.

Should you confront the bully? If you could have you would have. Instead, use the WBI suggested 3-step method. Remember put your health first. Don't believe the lies told about you. Spend time with loved ones and friends. At times of debilitating stress like this, you must not be isolated. Isolation makes the stress worse.

As we said, there is not yet any state that has passed an anti-bullying law for the workplace.

 

Dr. Gary Namie & Dr. Ruth Namie
Workplace Bullying Institute
workplacebullying.org
WBI-Legislative Campaign
www.healthyworkplacebill.org