When they were at school, I just easily avoided them. Having a smaller social group has a plus side! But if they are your boss or sit in the cubicle next to you (a coworker that you are forced to see constantly) or a member of your family--they are quite triggering. It was also triggering for me to see others being bullied but not removing themselves from the situation. I can think of a couple of people who wanted approval from bullies (I don't see you as being at all like this). They wanted approval despite the fact that it really wasn't approval at all--the bullies were using them to pump up their own egos. Sickening!!!!