Reflection on "Bully" the Movie

Summary

The movie "Bully" is a documentary of five families who have kids that are being bullied at school. Two of the kids who were bullied took their own lives because they couldn't handle the bullying anymore. The bullying of the kids was something as simple as calling someone stupid, and escalating up to the bullies choking, punching, and stabbing the kids, which was all caught on tape that is shown in this movie. The movie is available on Netflix, iTunes, and DVD. The website for information about the Bully Project is http://www.thebullyproject.com/

Reaction

I had already seen this movie once when it first came out in theaters. The first time I saw it I cried like a baby because it is so sad and depressing that an 11 year old child would choose to end his life because kids at school are bullying him on a daily basis. Even how another child was being punched, choked, and stabbed with the cameras rolling and capturing everything, but he wouldn't say anything to anyone because he knows that the bullying isn't going to stop. It's especially sad when his mom asks him how does it make him feel about being punched and the boy replies that maybe he doesn't feel anymore. The second time watching it I still cried, but I felt more enraged by what is happening. Schools are making these promises that they are going to do everything they can and that they are going to fix it, when in reality they are no where close. It sickens me that so many families have to bury their children because they decided to commit suicide, especially at such young ages. I remember when I was in first grade I got bullied by one boy who was known for being a bully because I used to suck my thumb. It affected me, so that was when I stopped sucking my thumb, but I was still feeling horrible about myself. Other kids were being bullied by him but weren't doing or saying anything about it because they didn't want this kid to come after any of us. But I was so hurt that I said something to my teacher and thankfully something was done about it. There were any problems with anyone after that. Yet now when kids go to authorities, it's like they don't even listen or try to understand and take enough action, if any.

Plan

Obviously bullying needs to be stopped. Children need to be able to feel safe about going to school. They should be going to school to learn, not live in fear of walking down the hallways. I feel like there should be a club at school for anti-bullying. Students can get together and think of ways to prevent bullying on their school campus. If there is someone who is being bullied they can come to this club as a no judgement zone so they can talk about what is going on. It's better to talk things through with others rather than holding it in. One person can only take so much. They can then take further action to the principle to deal with the specific bully. The bully's family should be involved with the situation too. Just like the kids who are being bullied and not telling their family, the bully is obviously not telling their family that they go to school everyday and pick on their peers. If there is any influence at all to stop the bully, it will most likely be someone from the family. 

Personal Safety: Digital Safety

Drugs, Addiction, Alcohol, Tobacco...Oh My!

Chapter 2

1. Studies indicate that certain characteristics if the Type A pattern--anger, cynicism, and hostility--increase the risk of heart disease.
2. The heightened response to minor stressors in the Type C personality may impair immune functions.
3. According to the American Psychological Association, 77% of adult Americans reported stress-related health problems in 2007.
4. The stress triggered by a pleasant stressor is eustress.

Chapter 3

1. Nearly 50% of college students report depression severe enough to hinder their daily functioning.
2. In electroconvulsive therapy for depression, an epileptic-like seizure is induced by an electrical impulse transmitted through electrodes placed on the head.
3. Seasonal affective disorder is when depression worsens during winter months as the number of hours of daylight diminishes, then improves with the spring and summer.
4. 1 in every 100 people has a schizophrenic episode sometime in his or her lifetime, most commonly starting in adolescence.

Chapter 7

1. The suicide rate of compulsive gamblers is 20 times higher than that of the general population.
2. Some experts link compulsive shopping with neglect or abuse during childhood; it also seems to be associated with eating disorders, depression, and bipolar disorder.
3. Internet addicts spend an average of 38 hours online every week.
4. Adolescent girls who date boys two or more years older than themselves are more likely to use drugs.

Chapter 8

1. On average, a male smoker loses  about 13 years from his life; a female smoker loses nearly 15 years.
2. Hormonal fluctuations may also affect the rate of alcohol metabolism, making women more susceptible to high BACs at certain times during her menstrual cycle.
3. The metabolic rate cannot be influences by exercise, breathing deeply, eating, drinking coffee, or taking other drugs.
4. Studies of pilots, drivers, and skiers all indicate that coordination and cognition are impaired in a person with a hangover, increasing the risk of injury.

Chapter 16

1. A death caused by a residential fire occurs every 143 minutes.
2. About 40% of all unintended firearm deaths occur among people age 5-29.
3. Every year, about 120 Americans are unintentionally shot to death by children under 6.
4. Although most people fear attack from strangers, the majority of victims are acquainted with their attacker.

Stress and Psychological Wellness

Sometimes we need to realize there are OTHER solutions to our problems.

There are times when you are faced with a problem and you feel like you are stuck and there is absolutely no other option or solution to the problem. This causes you to get stressed out which keeps you from seeing a solution to the problem. You might not see it right away, but usually there is always a solution to your problem. It might not be completely satisfying, but you can at least have some ease about the situation to help you become less stressed. When you're less stressed you can think more clearly. A way to try and find a solution is to talk to someone and let them know what is happening. Chances are they will see your situation in a different way than you do, helping you find the solution faster. But sometimes people are other-directed causing that person to maybe give the solution that someone else wants, but doesn't give themselves a solution because they are trying to satisfy the other person. For example, if you are having a bad day and your friend keeps asking you what's wrong, but you don't want them to know how you truly feel, you just tell them that you are tired so they leave you alone. It satisfies them, but you still aren't satisfied which causes you to become stressed. A way you can help yourself out in this situation is by trying meditation and visualization to help relax yourself. This can help cause a reaction where you are able to find a solution to your problem and become less stressed. For people that do meditation and visualization on a daily basis are usually seen as being inner-directed. They have their own values and a positive self-concept which leads to a high self-esteem. Overall, the moral of the story is to just stop, take a step back, assess the situation, and try your best to satisfy not only others, but more importantly yourself.