What to Do When People Make Fun of You
When people make fun of you, it feels like crap. It can make you want to crawl into a hole, punch them in the face, or both at the same time. But there are way better options than violence or becoming a hermit.
I’m going to walk you through exactly how to handle mockery, teasing, and straight-up bullying – whether you’re dealing with mean comments at school, workplace jerks, or that one “friend” who always takes jokes too far.
The goal? To help you respond in a way that:
- Protects your dignity
- Doesn’t escalate the situation
- Keeps your mental health intact
How to Respond When People Make Fun of You
Let’s break this down into actionable steps you can use immediately the next time someone decides to be a jerk.
1. Stay Calm (Even When You Want to Explode)
When someone makes fun of you, your body immediately goes into fight-or-flight mode. Your heart races, your face gets hot, and you might feel that surge of adrenaline telling you to either lash out or run away.
But here’s the secret: bullies are looking for a reaction. They want to see you get upset, angry, or embarrassed. That’s their payoff.
So the first step is to:
- Take a deep breath (seriously, don’t skip this)
- Notice your emotions without acting on them
- Keep your face neutral (practice this in the mirror!)
According to research from the University of Washington, remaining calm during provocation reduces a bully’s satisfaction by up to 70%. That’s because you’re denying them exactly what they want.
Think of it like a toddler throwing a tantrum to get candy. If you never give them candy for tantrums, they eventually stop trying.
2. Choose Your Response Strategy
Now that you’ve kept your cool, you have options. I’ve categorized them into three approaches:
The Deflect and Redirect
This is when you acknowledge what they said but immediately pivot away from it:
“Yeah, my haircut is different. Speaking of which, did anyone catch the game last night?”
This works especially well for mild teasing that isn’t meant to be harmful.
The Humor Shield
Using humor (without putting yourself down) can be incredibly effective:
If someone says: “Nice shirt, did your mom pick that out?”
You could say: “Thanks for noticing! I’ve actually been told I have the fashion sense of a colorblind celebrity stylist.”
Self-deprecating humor shows confidence, but don’t overdo it or make yourself the punchline.
The Direct Approach
Sometimes, simply being straightforward is best:
“That comment was disrespectful. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t speak to me that way.”
Then immediately walk away. Don’t wait for their response or get pulled into an argument.
Psychology Today reports that setting clear boundaries with bullies decreases repeat incidents by nearly 40%.
3. When to Just Walk Away
Let’s be real – sometimes the best response is no response.
If someone is:
- Clearly trying to provoke you
- Under the influence
- Known for being unreasonable
- In a position of power over you
Then disengagement might be your smartest move.
How to do it right:
- Make brief eye contact (shows you’re not intimidated)
- Give a slight shrug or “whatever” expression
- Turn and walk away confidently (posture matters!)
Don’t look back or check their reaction. That gives them power.
4. Build Your Support System
No one should face mockery alone. Research from the National Alliance on Mental Illness shows that having just one supportive person reduces the psychological impact of bullying by up to 50%.
Who to include in your support circle:
- Friends who lift you up (not the ones who join in the teasing)
- Family members you trust
- Mentors, teachers or counselors
- Online communities focused on positivity
When someone makes fun of you, talking it through with your support system can help you:
- Process your emotions
- Get perspective on the situation
- Brainstorm better responses for next time
- Remember your value isn’t determined by jerks
5. Strengthen Your Mental Armor
The best defense against mockery is building up your self-confidence so that other people’s opinions matter less.
Think of it like this: if you know your worth, someone else’s random opinion is just noise.
Ways to build your mental toughness:
- Track your wins: Keep a journal of your accomplishments, big and small
- Practice positive self-talk: Replace “I’m such an idiot” with “I made a mistake, and that’s how humans learn”
- Develop your strengths: The better you get at things you value, the less vulnerable you feel overall
- Limit social media: Studies show reducing social media use improves mental health and makes you less sensitive to criticism
6. When the Joke Goes Too Far
Sometimes what starts as “just joking around” crosses into harassment or bullying. Know the difference:
Friendly teasing:
- Goes both ways
- Stops when you ask
- Doesn’t target insecurities
- Makes everyone laugh, including you
Harmful bullying:
- Is persistent
- Targets your vulnerabilities
- Continues after you’ve asked them to stop
- Is meant to humiliate or control you
If you’re experiencing the second category, it’s time to:
- Document incidents (dates, times, what was said)
- Report it to authorities (HR, school administration, etc.)
- Consider professional help if it’s affecting your mental health
What I’ve Learned From Experience
When I was younger, I was teased for being the “smart kid” in class. I tried different approaches:
- Getting angry (failed miserably)
- Trying to be “cooler” (exhausting and ineffective)
- Ignoring it completely (somewhat worked)
But what actually worked best was using humor and finding my tribe of people who appreciated me. Once I had confidence in who I was, the teasing lost its power.
Now when someone makes a snarky comment about me being a “health nerd” or whatever, I just laugh and say, “Yep, that’s me! Want some nutrition facts with your lunch?”
Taking Back Your Power
Remember this: when people make fun of you, it says more about them than it does about you.
Psychologists at Stanford University found that people who mock others are often dealing with their own insecurities or were taught that putting others down is how to gain social status.
The next time someone makes fun of you:
- Stay calm
- Choose your response strategy
- Walk away if needed
- Talk to your support system
- Keep building your mental strength
You can’t control other people’s behavior, but you absolutely can control how much power you give their words over your happiness and self-worth.
And remember – the people worth having in your life don’t tear others down to build themselves up.