It's common for teens to have to deal with a lot of difficult situations and emotions. If you're feeling stressed, angry, depressed, or frustrated, bullying someone else can be a quick escape - it takes the attention away from you and your problems. And if your friends respond by laughing and egging you on, it gives your self-esteem a little boost and reinforces your bullying behavior. Try to stop yourself right there and think about how your words and actions can hurt someone else. What may seem like innocent teasing to you can make a huge impact on another person's life.

If you find it hard to resist the temptation to be a bully, you might want to find someone to talk with. Talking can be a good way to release your feelings and frustrations and to look at a situation from a totally different perspective. For example, maybe hearing about how your older brother was bullied when he was in school would cause you to think a bit differently about the way you treat someone.

Reviewed by: Steve Dowshen, MD, and Jennifer Shroff Pendley, PhD
Date reviewed: March 2001