Have YOU ever been bullied? When I asked that question on my Facebook fanpage recently, I wasn't expecting the flood of replies I received. Here are just a few of the responses... another post on this subject tomorrow...
Elizabeth says:
I've left school now, but I was bullied for most of my school life. In primary one girl repeatedly called me names and made nasty remarks about me... I got so upset and stressed I developed a condition called trichotillomania, where I would tug on my hair, eventually pulling it out, to relieve anxiety. I learned to control the habit, but it wasn't easy. In Year Four I had a great teacher who made the class a 'Messages' box where we could write notes about our problems; the teacher would then talk to us privately to resolve the issues.
Secondary school was the same; people commented on my looks, my clothes, everything. They were things I could laugh off now, but back then they really hurt. I coped by talking to my nan and also writing letters describing what was happening. I never sent the letters, but it helped to write things down. I am now at uni and studying to be a primary teacher - I want to make sure no child in my class is ever bullied as I was.
Jade says:
I was always bullied, the whole time I was primary and at high school too. It was because I was tall and a little overweight - in the eyes of the bullies, I was ugly, different and weird.
What started off as silly gestures and name-calling grew into people throwing things at me for fun and saying really cruel and inappropriate things. I always felt lonely and left out, so I began to lose myself in books where I felt safer.
In the last year or two things have got a little better as I'm now at college; I have friends now and feel 100% happier.
Tilly says:
I'm thirteen and I am being bullied, and I feel like it will never end. People talk about me behind my back, take my things and break them, tell lies about me... there are a LOT of rumours going around the school about me just now. I don't have any friends now - the people I thought were my friends have backed off in case I sabotage their chances of being popular. I cry myself to sleep every night and I get awful nightmares - I haven't slept well for months. Nobody listens when I try to tell them what's happening; they think I am lying. I'm seeing a counsellor but that doesn't seem to help. The pain is just overwhelming sometimes, and I just don't know how to cope.
Suraiya says:
I was bullied by my so-called friends - I thought they were just teasing to start with, but it kept getting worse and worse. They made fun of my height, because I was small, called me fat and ugly and mocked me because I hadn't started my periods.. They ruined my self-confidence but with the support of my mum and my teachers I managed to step away from these girls and make true friends who respect me for who I am. It's ironic, because I'm taller now than the girls who used to bully me. I guess what matters is that I came through it and I am stronger now than I was before. I have repaired my confidence, too, and I don't think I would ever be hurt by such talk again. You have to learn to believe in yourself, to love and respect yourself. The thing is, that isn't always easy when you're in the middle of a painful situation; that's why it's important to get adult help.
Charlotte says:
I was bullied... am bullied. I am not the prettiest or most popular girl; I don't like the same music as most of my classmates. It shouldn't matter, but... it seems to. I was friends with a new girl called Emily; she was lovely at first and we went to each others houses a lot. Then she met an older girl, Zara, who doesn't go to our school. For a while we were all friends, but Zara got jealous and began to lash out at me; to my surprise, Emily sided with her. Every day now, my bus journey to school is a nightmare and Emily has turned lots of people against me... she uses Facebook to get at me, too. There's lots more, but... well, you get the idea. Sometimes I feel like I just can't get away from it...
Grace says:
From the moment I set foot in my secondary school, I could tell there would be trouble. I just sensed there were people who didn't like me. There always have been and maybe there always will be people like that. For three years they spread rumours about me, hit me, hid my personal belongings and made me feel awful about myself. I'd come home and cry every night. I am quite an open person, so I told my mum and eventually agreed to see the school counsellor. I had counselling for two years and was told I had 'strong symptoms of depression.' I lost what little self-esteem I had and more importantly, I lost who I WAS. Things are a little better now and I have gained some confidence back, but there's a long way to go. I am not sure just who I am anymore. I don't know if I will ever solve that mystery.
Another post on this SOON... COMMENT BELOW to tell us your experiences, or your advice.
I've left school now, but I was bullied for most of my school life. In primary one girl repeatedly called me names and made nasty remarks about me... I got so upset and stressed I developed a condition called trichotillomania, where I would tug on my hair, eventually pulling it out, to relieve anxiety. I learned to control the habit, but it wasn't easy. In Year Four I had a great teacher who made the class a 'Messages' box where we could write notes about our problems; the teacher would then talk to us privately to resolve the issues.
Secondary school was the same; people commented on my looks, my clothes, everything. They were things I could laugh off now, but back then they really hurt. I coped by talking to my nan and also writing letters describing what was happening. I never sent the letters, but it helped to write things down. I am now at uni and studying to be a primary teacher - I want to make sure no child in my class is ever bullied as I was.
I was always bullied, the whole time I was primary and at high school too. It was because I was tall and a little overweight - in the eyes of the bullies, I was ugly, different and weird.
What started off as silly gestures and name-calling grew into people throwing things at me for fun and saying really cruel and inappropriate things. I always felt lonely and left out, so I began to lose myself in books where I felt safer.
In the last year or two things have got a little better as I'm now at college; I have friends now and feel 100% happier.
I'm thirteen and I am being bullied, and I feel like it will never end. People talk about me behind my back, take my things and break them, tell lies about me... there are a LOT of rumours going around the school about me just now. I don't have any friends now - the people I thought were my friends have backed off in case I sabotage their chances of being popular. I cry myself to sleep every night and I get awful nightmares - I haven't slept well for months. Nobody listens when I try to tell them what's happening; they think I am lying. I'm seeing a counsellor but that doesn't seem to help. The pain is just overwhelming sometimes, and I just don't know how to cope.
I was bullied by my so-called friends - I thought they were just teasing to start with, but it kept getting worse and worse. They made fun of my height, because I was small, called me fat and ugly and mocked me because I hadn't started my periods.. They ruined my self-confidence but with the support of my mum and my teachers I managed to step away from these girls and make true friends who respect me for who I am. It's ironic, because I'm taller now than the girls who used to bully me. I guess what matters is that I came through it and I am stronger now than I was before. I have repaired my confidence, too, and I don't think I would ever be hurt by such talk again. You have to learn to believe in yourself, to love and respect yourself. The thing is, that isn't always easy when you're in the middle of a painful situation; that's why it's important to get adult help.
I was bullied... am bullied. I am not the prettiest or most popular girl; I don't like the same music as most of my classmates. It shouldn't matter, but... it seems to. I was friends with a new girl called Emily; she was lovely at first and we went to each others houses a lot. Then she met an older girl, Zara, who doesn't go to our school. For a while we were all friends, but Zara got jealous and began to lash out at me; to my surprise, Emily sided with her. Every day now, my bus journey to school is a nightmare and Emily has turned lots of people against me... she uses Facebook to get at me, too. There's lots more, but... well, you get the idea. Sometimes I feel like I just can't get away from it...
From the moment I set foot in my secondary school, I could tell there would be trouble. I just sensed there were people who didn't like me. There always have been and maybe there always will be people like that. For three years they spread rumours about me, hit me, hid my personal belongings and made me feel awful about myself. I'd come home and cry every night. I am quite an open person, so I told my mum and eventually agreed to see the school counsellor. I had counselling for two years and was told I had 'strong symptoms of depression.' I lost what little self-esteem I had and more importantly, I lost who I WAS. Things are a little better now and I have gained some confidence back, but there's a long way to go. I am not sure just who I am anymore. I don't know if I will ever solve that mystery.
Another post on this SOON... COMMENT BELOW to tell us your experiences, or your advice.
I sometimes get picked on and I don't no whether its bulling or not but me reading all these stories has made my stories seem pathetic I feel sorry for someone in that situation and if my friend was being bullied like that I would do something about it . I am picked on for my size small and stubby and my good friends even call me things like snail and things like that but I found out I've got severe hypothyroidism its when your thyroid gland doesn't work which makes you slow really fat and short so i'm getting help and from all the changes i'm going through . I might be going to a school counsellor to help me get my feet back on the ground properly so yeah that's it really ,guys try to tell someone anyone you trust just in case its for a good reason xx
ReplyDeleteHope things get better for you soon... I think the school counsellor will definitely help. xxx
DeleteTalking about bullying and bringing it out in the open is an important part of not letting the bullies win. Well done to these courageous girls and young women for sharing their stories.
ReplyDeleteWell said.
Deletexxx
Well done for sharing your stories. Don't let the bullies get you down, share your problems with a friend or family member. I hope things improve for ye soon:):):)
ReplyDeleteI used to get bullied a lot about my size and weight, I still do sometimes by my so called friends but I'm coping better now. I know people still talk about me behind my back but I don't feel as bad as I used too. I used to go home crying and made myself so ill I couldn't eat anything taht day and then I got nervous and Couldn't sleep well. But the thing is, my 'so called friends' used to be horrible to me and call me names but now they found out I'm going to the same high school they started to act all nice but I know it's a false pretence. People used to pick on me because I was growing up quicker than them and they wanted to be older but if being bullied has taught me anything it's to ignore what bullies say, most of the time they're envious and want to hurt you to make them feel better about themselves
ReplyDeleteYou should tell someone, I got bullied and it's a horrible feeling but my mum told my school and my head teacher and she's trying to help me and the bullies sort it out. Blondie
ReplyDeleteWhen I was 8 years old, I was bullied. Just because I was the only one with glasses in my class, I was teased. My hair was pulled (I had long beautiful hair) my glasses thrown on the floor. During that year I changed my glasses 15 times because they were constantly broken. One day I got so depressed I took my scissors and cut of my hair.
ReplyDeleteBut then I told my school counsellor about it and the bullies were suspended from school.
(Ps-I love your books cathy. I have all of them. I would love to meet you. Please come to India one-day.
I'm glad they were suspended. Bullies are so horrible but are actually cowards in there heart. Stay strong yashaa. Hamdi:)xxx
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