#PNN E-Mentoring (Taiwo Akinlami): Personal Safety/Self Protection For Teenagers – Guidelines To Responses (9)

My dear friends, how are you doing today? Sure you had a great weekend. I had an exciting one giving expression to my dreams. I am beginning to write to you now after all-night dedication to meeting a deadline. Yet, I dare not go to bed because I have to be here discussing this interesting topic with you, my dear friends.

I hope you find today’s discussion interesting. I must agree that it has been a long journey; yet, I can bet my life that it is worth all the long hours of travel, I have taken you through since we began. Permit me today to share with you the rest of the nuggets on how to protect yourself against emotional abuse: (Click here to read the first part of this article)

V. Learn to walk away from abusive friendship without enmity: you must never stay with a group of people, who emotionally abuse you. Once, you notice, you are being emotionally abused, please take a walk away from the abuser. By taking a walk, here I mean you must stop relating with those, who abuse you. But you must never see them as enemies.

VI. Report emotional abuse to the appropriate authorities: when you are emotionally abused by your peers, particularly within the school, do  not take laws into your hands. Do not fight your own battle; simply report the matter to the appropriate authorities within the school. There are many battles you lose, when you fight for yourself, particularly when you and your abusers are under the authority of an institution like a school. Do not gossip, simply report the matter and follow-up until you see that justice is done.

VII. Take it easy with yourself when you make a mistake: finally, it is time to take it easy with yourself. If you observe very well, you will see that in most cases those who emotionally abuse in most cases capitalize on your mistakes. Abuse becomes more painful to you when is caused by your mistakes. And one of the major reasons why it is more painful when you suffer emotional abuse as result of your mistakes is that you have not learnt how laugh at yourself. You take yourself too seriously. You must accept that as human beings, we are not perfect and we must never treat ourselves as if we are perfect and we must not allow people to treat you as perfect. When you accept your imperfection as part of you, you will not allow anybody to put you down because of same. You must always that it at the back of your mind that those who try to abuse you emotionally because of your mistakes do make their own mistakes. In most cases, those who abuse you make worse mistakes and even cover it up.

I think I will sign out here, having discussed the last three tips as promised.  I think we should meet here again next week. Please be reminded that I am available on this platform for interaction. Do have an INSPIRED week. Stay SMART!