Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 4: How to protect yourself from someone on the Internet
• Method 2 of 4: Avoiding contact in school
• Method 3 of 4: How to act at work
• Method 4 of 4: Dealing with More Difficult Situations
• Tips
• Warnings

You have experienced a conflict with another person, and now you want or need to protect yourself from this person. The reasons for this desire can vary, from minor irritation to life-threatening circumstances. Lack of contact with the person with whom you have a conflict will allow you to prevent the aggravation of the situation and the repetition of quarrels and disputes. To protect yourself from the presence of an unwanted person in your Internet space, at school, at work and in the family, you will need to master several practical strategies if you are forced to do something in order not to contact the person.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: How to protect yourself from someone on the Internet

1. 1 Remove the person, unsubscribe or remove from friends on social networks. Each social network has the ability to delete a contact. This will not only allow you to stop seeing the person, but it will also make your notes invisible to them.
   • Make sure you have all the filters set up to block the person.
   • You may need to delete your social media accounts. It is possible that you will not like this, but in some cases such actions are justified.
2. 2 Block the person's email address. To prevent the person from writing to you again, block him in your address book. Set up a spam filter so that a person's emails are sent to the trash. If you need to gather evidence that a person is stalking, attacking, or mentally harassing you, move the letters to a separate folder. In other cases, the letters can be simply deleted.
   • Proofs of harassment are often needed in court proceedings because the documents lend weight to the charges.
3. 3 Do not call or text the person yourself. It can be difficult for you not to get in touch: perhaps you want to express something unpleasant to the person or are struggling with the desire to restore the relationship. In both cases, contact will provoke unnecessary communication, which can worsen the situation.
4. 4 Don't answer calls, messages, or emails. Find the strength to ignore the person. It may not be difficult. However, the person may try to connect with you only to do more harm. Silence will let the person know what your true intentions are and avoid unnecessary communication.

Method 2 of 4: Avoiding contact in school

1. 1 Change class, group, or school. If you can't stay calm or you just need to distance yourself from the person, take action. You may find it difficult to pass exams or other tests, but if the situation is really difficult, you should go for it.
   • If you explain to the administration of the educational institution why you want to do this, they can treat you with understanding.
2. 2 Talk to your teacher or administration. This issue should be discussed in person, so call or write to the person asking them to make an appointment with you. Perhaps you will need to talk not only with the teacher, but also with someone from the administration. If you are under 18, a parent must accompany you.
   • You can put it this way: “It became extremely difficult for me to study in the same group as _____. I need to transfer to another class. You can also invite this person to transfer. What can be done in this situation and how quickly? "
   • Teachers and administration can try to solve the problem without resorting to translation. Keep calm and stand your ground. Strive to ensure that all your needs are met.
   • Be prepared to explain in detail why you are asking for this.
3. 3 Take a different path. College campuses can be very large. Find the least popular route. If you know how a person with whom you do not want to cross usually moves, walk so as not to meet him. Yes, you may have to spend more time moving around, but this way you can avoid meeting the unwanted person.
   • If you see a person in the distance, turn around and go the other way.
4. 4 Avoid eye contact. You may happen to meet an unwanted person by chance. Avert your eyes as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary interaction with him. Be prepared for the unexpected.
5. 5 Ask friends to help you. With the help of your friends, it will be easier for you to get through unpleasant moments. A friend can block you or distract an unwanted person so you can walk away unnoticed. However, it is important to ask only those you really trust for help.
   • Start a conversation with someone at the party. Walk up to the person and say, “I’ll talk to you now because I need to avoid meeting one person. You do not mind, do you?" This will not only give you the opportunity to avoid contact with the unwanted person, but it will also allow you to chat with the person you like.
6. 6 Be prepared to resort to tricks that will allow you to quickly get out of the situation. You may have to pretend that you are on the phone or that you have lost your glasses or keys. These tricks work even with the most annoying people.
   • If someone you don't want to talk to is coming towards you, pull out your phone and pretend you have an important conversation. You can turn away and leave.
   • If you want to end a conversation that you don't like, suddenly sigh and say that you don't remember where you left your keys and that you need to run. This will help you get out of a situation in which you are uncomfortable.
7. 7 Appreciate the experience unpleasant situations give you. Some believe that everyone, even the most annoying and unpleasant people, appears in our life to give some kind of lesson. Each new experience teaches something and allows us to better understand what we want from life.
   • Make a list of what the unpleasant experience taught you.
   • Make a list of all the positive experiences associated with the situation. Most situations contain something good as well.

Method 3 of 4: How to act at work

1. 1 Change jobs. It is not always possible to afford to change jobs, but in some situations this solution will be optimal. Problems at work can range from a simple misunderstanding to something much more serious (such as sexual harassment allegations). Perhaps you want to keep your job because you love it. In this case, you should think about other options for solving the problem.
   • Report all serious incidents to Human Resources. The task of this department is, among other things, to help in such situations.
2. 2 Ask to be transferred to another department, to another office, or to replace your manager. If you work in an office or manufacturing facility, there may not be many options, but if you need to physically shield yourself from someone, ask for it. Don't put up with having to listen to or be around someone you don't like. This will negatively affect your job satisfaction and increase your stress levels.
   • You will be asked to substantiate the request, so be prepared for this.Write down your concerns in advance and bring all your paperwork with you to the meeting.
   • You will not be the first or the last person to ask for a transfer. This happens in many companies.
3. 3 Focus on your productivity. Focusing on your work and what you need to do to be productive will help you avoid the unwanted person. You have the right to a conflict-free workspace where you feel safe. Solitary work will allow you to avoid interacting with people who may misinterpret your words or actions.
   • At lunchtime, tidy up your drawers, do simple exercise, read magazines.
   • Enjoy the time you spend alone with yourself. Meditate, do yoga, write poetry. All of this will help you fight stress.
4. 4 Consider the work schedule of the person you don't like. Work shifts can start and end at different times and on different days of the week. If you work in shifts, ask to change your schedule. If you work from nine to five it will be difficult for you to make any schedule changes, but you can consider the schedule of the person you are avoiding and adjust to their breaks and lunch.
5. 5 Don't accept invitations. Be careful and refuse invitations to events where there will be a person you don't like. You should not put yourself in danger or put yourself in an uncomfortable position.
   • If you want to spend more time with your colleagues, arrange your events with them.
6. 6 Don't be afraid to get out of unwanted situations. There is nothing worse than being in a situation that makes you uncomfortable. You may not be doing anything because your boss is around or because you are worried about what colleagues think or say about you. Don't be afraid to say it's time for you to go because it's a long way home, or any other reason.
   • You can go to the toilet and then leave unnoticed without saying goodbye. This is an acceptable solution. It is important to rid yourself of the company of the person you are avoiding and get out of an unpleasant situation.
   • If you leave without telling anyone, write a message to a trusted colleague and explain that you left. Otherwise, people may begin to worry about you, especially if you have not had a conflict with anyone.
7. 7 Behave with dignity in the event of an unplanned interaction with a person you dislike. Most likely, you will have to talk to this person about work at some point. Stay calm, behave with dignity, and focus on your work to avoid conflict. Do not react to attempts to provoke you.
   • Hold on until you end the conversation. Congratulate yourself for doing it.
   • Maintain a positive attitude. Try not to talk to the person you don't like about serious topics, discuss problems with him, or complain to him. Demonstrate calm and optimism that cannot be overshadowed by negativity or awkwardness of the situation.
   • Think positive. This will keep you from getting caught up in negative discussions.
   • No one can take control of the situation from you if you maintain a positive attitude. Responding to a provocative remark will transfer control into the hands of your interlocutor. But only you yourself are able to control and take responsibility for your feelings and actions. This is an important task.
8. 8 Try to see the big picture. It is very important. When you understand that life continues after the conflict, it will become easier for you to get rid of negative feelings. You will feel relieved. Let go of what happened and focus on new priorities.
   • If you are trying to let go of the situation, but you are not successful, it may mean that you are not yet aware of some of your feelings.

Method 4 of 4: Dealing with More Difficult Situations

1. 1 Set boundaries. You should explain your intentions and expectations to people, whatever the conflict may be: quarrels with your mother-in-law, drug addiction of a cousin or sister, uncle's wrong behavior towards your child, and so on. Your decision to avoid the person is likely to be driven by some kind of repetitive problematic interactions.
   • If you live with this person, say this: “I want you to know that I intend to distance myself from this conflict situation. It seems to me that this would be more correct. Can we agree not to interfere anymore in each other's affairs? "
   • If you live separately, it will be easier to solve the problem. Ask not to call or text you. Avoid any contact.
2. 2 Don't go to family events. In many families, conflicts occur during general meetings. If you want to avoid the company of someone whose presence will inevitably create a problem, apologize and refuse to participate in the event.
   • Plan family gatherings on your own, but avoid overlapping events so that your loved ones do not have to choose between you and the person you are avoiding, otherwise the situation will only escalate.
3. 3 Interact with the person only in the presence of others. Perhaps you have a relative whom you don’t trust for some reason and with whom you don’t want to be alone. Whatever the reason, take a witness with you if you have to interact with that person. Personal safety should be your top priority.
4. 4 See a specialist if you are not coping with your thoughts and emotions. If you are tormented by thoughts of this unpleasant situation, it may be helpful to talk to a therapist. See a psychotherapist in your city.
   • Look for a specialist online.
   • Ask a friend, colleague, or family member for advice.
5. 5 Seek legal assistance if needed. If the situation escalates, you may need to contact a lawyer. Conflicts are different, and in some situations it is best to try to protect yourself from interacting with a person in all ways. In the case of going to court, the two parties confront each other. Anything you say or do can be used in court. The lawyer will explain to you what to do and how to do it.
6. 6 Get an approximation ban if it applies in your country (Russian law does not provide for such a ban). The person you are avoiding can be dangerous. If you think you are in danger, get a restraining order in court to prevent the person from contacting you. If he violates the ban, you can contact the law enforcement agencies.

Tips

• You can always find a reason to get out of the situation.
• Don't let the situation dominate your mind. Spend your energy on more productive things.
• Live on. For whatever reasons you avoid the person, pull yourself together and put the conflict in the past.
• Perhaps a sudden meeting will throw you off balance. You can say hello and move on, or just keep quiet. Be prepared for both.
• It is important to stay calm and behave with dignity in any situation. This will solve the problem without negativity.
• If someone puts psychological pressure on you or someone from your loved ones, report it to the appropriate authorities.
• Try to make your personal safety your top priority. Do not allow contact with the person you are avoiding with all your might and protect loved ones from his presence.

Warnings

• If a restraining order was issued against you, you will be obliged to comply with it, otherwise you will face legal consequences. The law protects everyone from harm that other people can cause. It is important to respect the law, whoever it protects.
• Consider the severity of the conflict.If you are in a situation where any contact between you and another person is prohibited, try to do your best not to tell that person first.
• Laws regarding persecution vary from country to country. If you are being persecuted, report the issue to someone with more authority: a parent, teacher, church leader, police officer, or lawyer.