When Someone Calls You Pathetic

Have you ever had a close friend, a partner or an acquaintance call you “pathetic”, whether you may have deserved it by being incredibly annoying, or they just have their heads up another part of their bodies and chose to dish it out on you? I have. It’s rude. It’s hurtful and you know what, no, I’m not going to put up with it. So what do you do about this? Here are some options if that situation ever arises or has already come up.

1. Feel sorry for yourself and cry in a bucket of ice cream.

Sure, the easiest and most passive way to deal with insults is the emotional way with our best therapist: Ben and Jerry (especially anything with CHOCOLATE!). We feel like our lives are no better than the words others use to define us and we just feel like crap. Not only will this give you an excuse to engulf ice cream (and maybe a reason to hit the gym afterwards), but it also keep you out of any kind of confrontation or legal issues.

2. Stand up for yourself and be assertive.

Are you really going to let them talk to you like that? Who do they think they are? Oh hell no! Stand up to them and say, “No dude. I am not pathetic and I do not condone to anyone who feels the need to use insults in a conversation. Grow up and and take a good look at yourself.” Being assertive is definitely the healthy and productive way to stand up for yourself but not everyone possesses the skill to do this in a sane matter.

3. Stand up for yourself and be aggressive.

What else does “be aggressive” mean? Deck them in the face. True, you may have a 50% chance of ending up in prison but for that moment, you feel freaking awesome. The feeling of having your fist come into contact with someone who pissed you off. Amazing. However, despite the great feeling, you may not want this to be your go-to option.

4. Be passive aggressive.

Trash talk about them behind their backs. Spray paint “pathetic” on his windowsill. Dedicate a novel insulting this person and how they shouldn’t have messed with you. Whoever said confrontation had to be in person?

5. Meditate and be the better person.

Go for a run. Do some morning yoga. Perform some retail therapy. Whatever you have to do to push aside that rude comment and focus back on yourself. Center yourself. Tell yourself it’s okay. You’re not pathetic. You’re not annoying. You’re just being you. It’s not your fault that that person doesn’t like you. Not everyone is going to like you. But the ones who do are the ones you know will stay in your life.

6. Take Up Boxing.

And tape a picture of the person on the bag. Don’t risk getting arrested. Plus the punching bag can’t punch you back. The best way to relieve stress. The best way to get over a break up. The best way to release your anger in a constructive way. Try it out for at least a month. I am a strong bystander of this one.

7. Indulge in drugs and alcohol.

Sure you can go out and down 2 bottles of Jack Daniels and then find a Jack Daniels and smoke pot with him…..But this can be frown upon when you’re no longer in college. Hitting the bars and clubs may have been the plan after finals week and for 21st birthdays and yea it feels great! (from what you can remember), but in the end, who are you really hurting?

8. Improve yourself and show them up.

Become the next President. Start your own talk show. Get the perfect beach body and win the lottery. Show those who made fun of you that they can throw insults at you and call you names all you want, but that will only make you stronger. Turn hurtful words into encouragements and motivation to improve your life that much more.

9. Reflect upon it in your journal.

When we don’t have those we trust to turn to, our journals become our best friends. We can vent to it. We can throw angry words and insults at it. We can throw it literally. We can scribble and stab it all we want. And the best part is, no one gets hurts. Journals can be better therapists than people when our sole purpose is to vent out frustration without the fear and anxiety of getting judged.

10. Move away and change your number.

When all else fails, move to another state, another country. Change your number. Change your name. Get plastic surgery. Whatever helps you to forget about that evil person and never run into them again.

11.

Just remember, no matter what we do, we are always faced with horrible people that just gets under our skins and makes us cringe. We always have people around us who find us unbearable to be around, despite how much we want them to like us. No one has the perfect solution as to how to handle obnoxious people in our lives. It varies from situation to situation and from person to person. In the end, just remember to think before you act, what will the consequences of your actions be? Prison? Botched boob job and a fake nose? Power? Confidence? Smoking hot body? You decide.