‘Want to know what bullying does to the victim? Here are the top 3 negative impacts of bullying on victims.
Bullying can have devastating effects on the victim. Therefore, in this post, you will learn precisely what bullying does to the victim so that you can protect yourself if you ever find yourself in the crosshairs of a bully.
Once you learn all about these crucial details, you will be better able to shield yourself from the effects of bullying.
This post is all about what bullying does to the victim, so that you can recognize it and find ways to counteract it.
What Bullying Does to the Victim
Bullies will often bully a specific victim for so long that the victim eventually expects maltreatment from all people. If you’re a survivor of bullying, you may no longer get bullied.
Like me, you may have long since regained your confidence and self-esteem. However, you still remember the feelings you had during that time. Only you couldn’t put names to the effects that bullying was having on you.
Here’s what bullying does to victims.
1. It instills a false sense of insecurity in them.
After being bullied for so long, you become fearful. Around people, you clam up, keep your eyes to yourself, and go about your business.
However, it seldom works because bullies are like a pack of pit bulldogs. They can smell fear from a mile away. Therefore, being reserved and staying out of the way tends to attract more bullying.
2. It instills fear and Anxiety.
You continuously apologize for everything. Over-apologizing is the surefire sign of bullying and abuse. Being reserved and the fear of looking people in the eye are also signs.
Understand that you do these things because you’re scared to death. You’ve lost all sense of your worth. Moreover, you are afraid to make decisions on your own.
Why? Because you fear that you’ll make the wrong choices and people will ridicule you for it.
You’re afraid to talk to people. Because you know that, others will bully you no matter what you say. You realize that bullies don’t want you talking. They only want you to stay quiet.
You know that people will accuse you of saying something offensive or foolish. And they’ll persecute you for it. They’re fearful of going out or being seen in public because they might run into the wrong people (bullies).
They’re scared to greet people because they fear being perceived as too friendly. But if they say nothing, they’re often mistaken for being stuck up or standoffish.
What Bullying Does to the Victim:
If you are a victim of bullying and you do any of the above, STOP!
You don’t have to live in obscurity. Living your life in fear is no way to live! It sucks!
It’s a downright miserable existence. And you should flat refuse to keep your head down and clam up to make other people feel better!
I want you to realize that you don’t need permission to exist! You don’t need approval to be yourself.
The day you say, “Screw it! Who cares what those idiots think!” will be the day you get your life back. Things may get worse before they get better.
But it’ll be worth it in the long run. I guarantee it.
3. It gives them negative self-beliefs.
- “Nobody will ever love me.”
- “Nothing good can ever happen to me.”
- “Human beings are predators and love drama.”
- ”It sucks to be me!”
Those may be your beliefs now. However, I’m living proof that you can overcome low self-esteem.
What Bullying does to the Victim:
Bullying is a form of Brainwashing.
The reason you have these self-defeating beliefs is that bullying is a form of brainwashing. When you have been an object of bullying for so long, you begin seeing yourself through your bullies’ eyes.
In other words, after people tell you for so long that you aren’t good enough, you eventually believe it yourself. And those negative self-beliefs only hold you back.
Why? Because the bullshit those creeps have drummed into your head becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy!
4. It causes Low Self-Worth.
Because bullying is so repetitive, it causes you to think that you don’t deserve to be happy. You become so fearful that you stop taking risks and play it safe.
You settle for far less than what you deserve. And you get even less than what you settled for.
You select friends who are below your level – people you don’t really want to be friends with. You date people you aren’t even remotely attracted to. All because you believe you can’t do any better.
As long as there’s a warm body around, it’s good enough. But realize that you’re not only being unfair to yourself, but also to those you select.
You deserve to be with people you want to be with and who want to be with you. And they deserve to be with people they choose and who choose to be with them.
Never choose to be with someone because you think they’re the only option you have. That’s not fair to you or them.
5. What Bullying Does to the Victim:
It causes Victims to Lose Trust in Humanity.
You develop the mindset that good fortune happens to others, but not to you. Also, you lose faith in humanity. In other words, you start thinking that all people are rotten and take pleasure in harming others.
This only causes you to miss out on what could be wonderful friendships and relationships. As a result, it only reinforces the loneliness and isolation.
This is what bullying does to you. It reprograms your mind and smashes your self-esteem to pieces. And that sometimes takes years to rebuild.
It causes you to do things that you usually wouldn’t do. I say this because it happened to me.
6. Bullying convinces victims to stop practicing self-care.
A little bit of selfishness is okay, even imperative at times! If you’re a victim of bullying, you may have others accuse you of being selfish. And they may do this when you take care of yourself.
Moreover, they may also shame you into believing that anything you do for yourself is wrong. Therefore, you put yourself on the back burner, and everyone else comes first.
However, realize that you do this at your own expense!
You’re afraid to say “no” to people. Why? Because, in the past, people have retaliated against you for daring to set a boundary. In fact, others may have forbade you from setting limits and forced you to “let” others violate you.
This can cause you not to value yourself as a person. That’s why you must stand up to those who have this kind of attitude. And do it no matter how they react.
What Bullying Does to the Victim:
It’s Time to Put Your Foot Down and Say, “No More!”
When you’ve had enough, you’ll know it. And when you finally got mad at the direction your life is headed. you will decide, “No more!”
Get proactive with your life. You deserve happiness just as much as anyone else. You have to be hungry – hungry for positive change.
Take the first step toward empowerment by reading as many personal development books as you can. Then, put the advice from those books into practice.
Realize that reprogramming yourself won’t be easy! But it will be worth it in the end.
Changing destructive thoughts and habits you’ve had for years is hard. It’s damn hard! It takes a lot of hard work and, above all, patience. Why? Because change doesn’t happen overnight.
change isn’t easily made.
Your mind will fight you every step of the way. It will take several years for you to notice a significant difference in your thought patterns.
However, if you stick with it, it will pay off in a big way!
Placing value on yourself and doing the work to better your life is the most important thing you can ever do for yourself. But don’t do it for me and don’t do it to impress your bullies or anyone else. Do it for yourself!
Do it because you’re hungry for change!
You must value yourself, even when it seems that others don’t. Keep fighting even when it appears that you’re losing the battle. Oftentimes, when things look bleakest, your breakthrough is just around the corner.
You don’t have to be a victim. Love yourself and put yourself first, then reach out to only those who reciprocate love to you. Turn a deaf ear to your bullies’ harmful talk. Send the toxic people packing! This is how you can protect yourself from the effects of bullying. In fact, you bully-proof yourself.
Because you’re worth it! And you can do it! I promise you!
This post was all about what bullying does to the victim so that you can recognize the symptoms in yourself and take steps to change your life for the better.
Related posts you’ll enjoy:
1. The Effects of Bullying: 17 Negative Results on Victims
2. Effects of Bullying on the Victim: 13 Symptoms of Bullied People
3. Fear of Setting Boundaries: 5 Reasons You Don’t Stand Up to Bullies
4. Psychological Effects of Gaslighting: 11 Ways it Impacts Victims
5. Bullying and Psychological Effects: 11 Emotions Victims Feel