Beat the bullies with Prestwood man (From Hillingdon Times)

Beat the bullies with Prestwood man

4:37pm Friday 25th November 2011 in Interviews By Rebecca Cain

ALEX Gadd has not had it easy. He was bullied not only as a child but also in his adult life. After finding ways to cope with the bullies he has written a book to help others. Here he talks to Rebecca Cain.

For the 28-year-old window cleaner bullying did not stop in the school yard. It continued as he grew into an adult.

He said: "Unfortunately in my life I have been bullied. I have dyspraxia, which is a learning disability. As I grew up I lacked quite a lot of confidence in myself. And the bullies picked up on this at school.

"And then I was bullied as an adult. There was very little advice. It seemed to be written for parents of children or for carers. There was very little out there for adults."

Dyspraxia affects the planning of what to do and how to do it. Children picked on Alex's differences but then adults did exactly the same. The Prestwood man is now self-employed.

He said: "When I first joined [the social club] people began to act in a cold manner towards me. Then I found out that this person had started rumours about me behind my back.

"When I reported bullying... people said it was just a personality clash. But not really. That would be two people not getting on. Bullying is someone starting a campaign of hate."

Alex wrote his book, Beat The Bully: A Guide To Dealing With Adult Bullying, which is now available to buy.

He said in his book he explores the types of bullying. He said there are three types: physical, verbal (of which there are three types) and passive bullies. He said with physical bullies you should report it to the police.

Then he said the verbal bullies are the blitzer, the stealth attacker and the emotional manipulator of which he gives advice on each. The passive bullies he said, are probably the hardest to deal with.

He said: "They are warm to every one else and cold to you. They are the hardest to catch out. All you can do is approach them calmly and ask them if you have done something to offend them."

Go to www.beat-the-bully-book.com. The book is available to buy online and in book stores.