I am harassed by a group of teenagers. What can I do?

Hello, Mark.

I am harassed by a group of teenagers. They can follow me or jump in front of me in traffic. They can be waiting in my workplace parking lot when I get to work or when I get off.

I get off my game and can't concentrate. I am concerned that this might show up on my job. I don't want my job to suffer for this.

How can I ignore these teenagers or not have the distractions bother me? What do you suggest? I have the download on improving concentration and focus. Also (side note), the police are aware of this situation. Because of the laws, I can't do anything until other factors happen. Maybe my mind is concentrating on those other factors. Please help. Thank you.

This question was submitted by 'Arleen'

Mark says...

Hi Arleen and thank you for writing in.

This sounds really difficult. I can't imagine why they have taken to harassing, even stalking, you in this way. This really does seem like a legal issue and I'm glad the police are aware of what is going on. You say that nothing can happen legally yet, until other factors come into play. I hope that doesn't mean you can do nothing until/unless they become violent. Perhaps you mean the police can do nothing until they make threats against you. I don't know. But whatever the exact situation, you need to focus on your work. When you are at work physically, you need to be entirely at work psychologically, too.

The 'Improve Concentration and Focus' download should help, so I suggest you keep listening to it. The key here is the capacity to compartmentalize your focus.

I suggest that when you get to work, away from those sad teenagers who don't have enough to fill their days, you engage in some mini demarcation ritual. We need to mark boundaries in situation and time as well as space. So, someone might come home from work, change clothes, and go for a jog, and that little 'ritual' demarcates their work time and place from their home life. Does that make sense?

The 'message' of the mini-ritual is, "I am at work now!" So this might be going to the bathroom, closing your eyes, and visualizing a bubble of work focus surrounding you like a protective invisible suit. You could also take a few moments to do some 'power posing' to change your focus.

Being able to 'shut things out' for a while is an extremely powerful and healthy psychological capacity that some people have naturally, but anyone can develop to a certain point. People who are naturally good at compartmentalizing their focus, such as bomb disposal experts or top sports people, have discovered the power of compartmentalized focus. These teenagers will not beat you because you can transcend their influence.

I hope the situation gets resolved soon, but meanwhile, you can work on how you respond and on not letting them dilute your work focus.

All my best,

Mark