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Hilya Tehrani, PsyD

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Hilya Tehrani is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with over twenty years of experience. She specializes in working with children and adolescents. Dr. Tehrani also has expertise in supporting individuals with autism, ADHD, anxiety, behavioral challenges, and learning and processing differences. She holds a BA in Psychology from The University of California, Los Angeles, an MA in Clinical Psychology from California State University, Northridge, and a PsyD in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University.

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Forum Comments (3)

Give me the best roast lines for bullies!
Kids are often given the advice to just ignore the bully or walk away, but these things don’t typically work out well. Programs that research what actually reduces bullying behavior tells us that what works best is a short verbal comeback. This should be something that communicates that what the bully said didn’t bother you or was just plain dumb. It helps even more if you also have the body language and gestures to support what you say.

For example, your response may be a simple “Whatever…” while you roll your eyes. You might shrug your shoulders and say “So what?” or “Who cares?” or even “Was that supposed to be funny?” Responses like this take the fun out of teasing for the bully and leave them feeling like what they did was lame. It is important to still walk away after this response. But, having first made this kind of statement lets the bully know they can’t get to you. It makes it less likely they will come after you in the future.
I’m an American-Muslim and Therian! Why do people hate me?
What works best against bullies is a short verbal comeback. Communicate that what the bully said didn’t bother you or was just plain dumb. It helps even more if you also have the body language and gestures to support what you say. For example, you may say “Whatever…” while you roll your eyes or shrug your shoulders. Responses like this take the fun out of teasing for the bully and leave them feeling like what they did was lame.

It is important to still walk away after this response, but making this kind of statement lets the bully know they can’t get to you and makes it less likely they will come after you in the future.
How do I deal with social anxiety?
If you experience social anxiety, joining a support group has a lot of benefits. Support groups can help you to better manage your own symptoms while also supporting others to overcome theirs. Being able to immediately work on the things that increase your anxiety level is one of the most effective ways to reduce anxiety in the long-run. In other words, facing your fears of social anxiety in a safe and supportive setting (like a support group) will go a long way toward empowering you to overcome your symptoms. You'll also receive real-time feedback, which will likely help you have a more reality-based (rather than anxiety-based) understanding of how you come across to others.

Co-authored Articles (12)

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