What should I do?
It's not too late to stop bullying - even if you think you've been tarred with the brush of someone who bullies.
Ask yourself why you're behaving that way. Think about the pain bullying can cause and ask yourself: do you really want to hurt or upset people?
Are you taking out your anger on other people because of things happening at home? Perhaps you're jealous of other people because they seem to be doing well as school and getting praise - while you feel like you're getting hassle from people for not doing so well. Could you be picking on people because that's the only way you can feel you can get 'one up' on them?
Talk to someone
Whatever the reason for your behaviour, it's probably a good idea to talk to someone about it.
If you're at school, you could try talking to a teacher you feel you trust. You might feel that teachers will still pick on you even if you want to stop bullying others - but that's not true. It's often the case that teachers don't like the action of bullying itself, not you personally.
If you're don't fancy talking to a teacher, you could try talking to someone your own age at school. Many schools offer support via 'peer support groups', which are run by students who are experienced in providing support and information on topics like health, addictions and, of course, bullying. People sometimes prefer going through things with other students because they feel they'll have more of an idea of what someone is going through and won't 'judge' them.
Parents, brothers, sisters or relatives can be a great source of comfort when talking about your problems, but it's not always convenient. Sometimes, the situation at home can be part of the problem.
Anonymous help
Another option might be to talk to someone who has nothing to do with your school, home life or your circle of friends.
There are now loads of organisations who can help young people involved in bullying - whether you're a person who is being bullied or whether you're the one who is bullying others.
These organisations can be called on the phone, usually for free. Everything you say will be confidential too.
Remember - no matter how uneasy you feel about talking through your situation, there's always someone that's willing to listen without judging you.
