To read Part 1 of this series, please click on this link: Brain Injury, Vulnerability, Bullying and Intimidation Part 1
In April 2010 I wrote a 7 Part article in which I shared what I learned about bullying and what helped to set me free from the impact of being bullied. The information helped me to take a different course of action as I interacted with individuals. Individuals who sought to take advantage of my being vulnerable, as I figured out how to navigate through life with the impact of a brain injury and an invisible disability.
As I became aware, I became less vulnerable. As I became less vulnerable, I found a new freedom. A freedom to be aware. A freedom to be me. A freedom to ask for what I need without fear. A freedom from the impact of being bullied. A freedom to trust.
I would like to share that article series with you. In this article series I share what helped me to be aware of and find freedom from being bullied. Click on each link to the part of the article series below and the part will open for you.
Traumatic Brain Injury and the Bully Revisited Part 1, Traumatic Brain Injury and the Bully Revisited Part 2, Traumatic Brain Injury and the Bully Revisited Part 3, Traumatic Brain Injury and the Bully Revisited Part 4, Traumatic Brain Injury and the Bully Revisited Part 5, Traumatic Brain Injury and the Bully Revisited — A Change of Perspective Part 6, Traumatic Brain Injury and the Bully Revisited — A Way Out Part 7
Through becoming aware and finding freedom I discovered that I no longer had to remain vulnerable or intimidated by bullies. Instead I could recognize them and take steps to take care of myself. Take care of myself when bullies seek to take advantage of my vulnerability through intimidation. Intimidation that can often present itself in subtle ways, with the motivation to control and manipulate you and I. Control and manipulate us into fulfilling their agendas for their plans and purposes. Plans and purposes to exploit and take advantage of our being vulnerable. Be aware.
In my experience I have found that being bullied does not have to be limited to individuals.. In my experience, I have found myself bullied by groups of individuals. In April 2013 I wrote a series to share what I discovered through being bullied by different groups. I will include links to the 3 Parts of this series. If you find yourself being bullied by a group, realize being bullied is about them. Being bullied is not about you. You are not the perpetrator. Recognize what is going on and detach yourself from the group. Groups that bully do not have your best interest in mind my friend.
In the below article series I would like share with you what helped me to understand how groups were bullying me. I then share what helped me to break free from groups that bullied me Click on each link to the part of the article series and each part will open for you.
Is the Group that You are In Hurting You? — Are you being Bullied? Part 1, Is the Group that You are In Hurting You? — Are you being Bullied? Part 2, Is the Group that You are In Hurting You? — Are you being Bullied? Part 3
In the event that you find yourself being bullied, be it physical, mental, emotional, spiritual or psychological; realize that you are not at fault. Bullies do what they do to intimidate, control and manipulate for their own gain. Bullies do not have your best interest in mind. In the event that you find yourself being bullied, speak to some one and let them know what you are experiencing. In my experience, I had to detach myself from groups, organizations and churches who sought to control, manipulate and in essence bully me.
I had to do so in order to begin to learn how to trust again. To learn how to trust my judgment. To learn how to trust myself. To learn how to trust a loving God. To learn how to trust trustworthy people. To learn how to establish relationships with individuals and groups who do not exist by control, manipulation or intimidation.
“I realized that bullying never has to do with you. It’s the bully who’s insecure.” Shay Mitchell
You have my permission to share my articles and or video presentations with anyone you believe could benefit, however please attribute me as being the author of the article (s) video presentation (s), and provide a link back to the article (s) on Second Chance to Live. In the event that you have questions, please send those questions to me. All questions are good questions. Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you. Copyright 2007-2016.
Anne Krautwald says
Wish there were a Danish page like this. The bullying I have experienced after brain trauma is not so much a direct form. Rather, it was a form of backstabbing, isolation and ultimately silencing. A very sinister form of bullying – denying one a voice.
Second Chance to Live says
Hi Anne,
Thank you for your comment and for what you shared with me. A agree. Bullying can definitely be subtle and covert. I do not like bullying in that form or any other form. Several years ago, I created a tool to be able to translate articles from Second Chance to Live. One of those languages is Danish. Below is a link to the various other languages available to translate Second Chance to Live.
Simply click on the Danish link and the whole of Second Chance to Live will be translated into Danish, Anne. Please let me know if the tool helps you. Please also share the tool with other folks to let them know of the availability to translate Second Chance to Live into their language. Thank you.
Click on the link and the tool will open for you.
https://secondchancetolive.org/translate-into-your-language/
Languages Represented in the Tool — Easy Translator into Your Language for Second Chance to Live
Albanian Arabic Bulgarian Catalan Chinese Simplified Chinese Traditional Croatian Czech Danish Dutch Estonian Filipino Finnish French Galician German Greek Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Indonesian Italian Japanese Korean Lativia n Lithuanian Maltese Norwegian Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian Serbian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Swedish Thai Turkish Ukrainian Vietnamese
Have a great day, Anne.
Craig
Anne Krautwald says
Thank you, Craig. English is not a problem for me as I am an MA student of English at the University of Aarhus. My point, however, was that we are short of initiatives like yours in Denmark, and I believe there is a need for something similar. Best regards Anne.
Second Chance to Live says
Hi Anne,
You are welcome. I am not sure what you mean initiative like mine. Could you please explain? Thank you.
Have a great day.
Craig
Anne says
Oh, I simply meant that while our welfare state (financed via our high taxes) takes care of the vital treatment in the context of an individual suffering brain trauma: hospitalization, rehabilitation etc, which is great, there seems to be a general lack of intelligent initiative/focus/spreading awareness on the lifelong problem of stigmatization, the traumatized victim must undergo during and after the initial/vital treatment(s) to get back on one’s feet, as I see on this site. No initiative to combat this lifelong problem of stigmatization (which is an extreamly complex matter, of course), so I am glad I found this webpage. Best regards, Anne
Second Chance to Live says
Hi Anne,
Thank you for the clarity. I am not sure if you are aware, but I am a master’s degree rehabilitation counselor. I have worked in both public and private rehab. I have been living and thriving with the impact of a traumatic brain injury and an invisible disability for over 50 years (About Page). I created Second Chance to Live on February 6, 2007, and I speak to the ongoing recovery process through holistic healing (body, soul, spirit, and emotions). I speak to the benefits of neuroplasticity. I have been training in different martial art disciplines for the past 19 years, so I am leading by example on the front of developing new neural pathways and brain reorganization. I created a neuroplasticity powerpoint presentation.
https://secondchancetolive.org/about-second-chance-to-live/
https://secondchancetolive.org/neuroplasticity-opening-door-hope-power-point-presentation/
I have written 1680 articles, created 355 video presentations (for individuals who learn through listening and watching), have written 10 eBooks and 14 slide shows of a select group of articles. Here is a link to the resources available on Second Chance to Live. The information within these resources could be used by people living with brain injuries throughout Scandinavia, Europe, Asia and beyond. Below is also a link to testimonials written by a few of the individuals who have benefited from the resources.
https://secondchancetolive.org/resources-available-second-chance-live/
https://secondchancetolive.org/http-secondchancetolive-org-testimonialsendorsements/
Easy Translator into Your Language for Second Chance to Live
Article / Video Presentation Links Contained within 12 Brain Injury Peer Support Categories
A List of 355 Video Presentations Created To Empower the Individual, Not the Brain Injury
Short Slide Show Presentations of Articles from Second Chance to Live
Healing — 10 Free eBooks — After Traumatic Life Events and Major Physical Injuries
Increasing Our Brain’s and Our Body’s Ability and Capacity to Thrive after a Brain Injury
Perhaps, Second Chance to LIve and the Resources offered could be the start of an initiative. The initiative that you spoke of in your email. An initiative to encourage, motivate, empower and offer hope to individuals living with the impact of brain injuries, labeling, and societal stigmatization. Let me know what you think and maybe we could work in collaboration. Thank you, Anne.
Have a great day.
Craig