Don’t suffer in silence!
Honestly share with your parents or some other trusted adult your feelings about being physically different. Getting feelings of fear out in the open is much healthier than letting them stay bottled up inside. Even if your listener can’t do much to help, just talking things out can often give you some clues to understanding the difference between the things you can change and those you can’t.

Realize that you are not alone
Find a friend or friends who have also been labeled different for some reason or other – different physically, academically, racially, whatever. There is strength in numbers. Besides it’s comforting to see that nobody’s perfect and you are not alone!

Ignore the “mean girls” (or guys)
Check out some of the kids who aren’t part of the group who teases and torments you. Maybe you will find some of them are less rude, cruel, and stupid than the kids who pick on you. You may even like some of them and realize they are actually pretty nice.

Understand bullies
Try to understand why so many kids are verbal or physical bullies. Psychologists explain that teens who pick on others have low self-esteem themselves. Even though they talk a good game and act like big shots, the only way they can really feel cool and strong is by putting others down. Another reason is fear. People are scared of the unknown, and if you are different in any way – that could cause them to act out their fear by being mean. 

Get involved
Join or form an interest group – musical, artistic, political, hobby etc. your ability to participate in the same interests as your classmates will help them see that you’re not so different after all. You may find out that you have more in common than you think.