How to Recover from Bullying: The 1 Thing You Must Do

‘Want to know how to recover from bullying? Here’s the one thing you must do if you expect to recover from and overcome bullying.

how to recover from bullyingTo recover from bullying takes time and effort. Therefore, in this post, you will learn how to recover from bullying and reclaim your power and your life.

Once you learn this one crucial step, you will overcome bullying so much faster.

This post is all about how to recover from bullying so that you can move on to a better and more rewarding life.

How to Recover from Bullying

This may make you angry because it did me when someone gave me this advice years ago.

Moreover, you may think that I’m an idiot for what I’m about to say. However, when I finally did it, it worked for me. Therefore, here is the ONE thing you must do to recover.

You must forgive your bullies.

Ouch! I know this is not what you expected to read. However, know that forgiveness doesn’t mean that you have to be buddy-buddy with them.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean foolishness

Healthy forgiveness doesn’t mean that what they did to you was okay. What it means is that you refuse to let those who transgressed against you set up camp in your mind.

It means that you refuse to hold onto grudges that may block you from your rightful blessings. In this, you make room for growth and success.

Sadly, too many people think that forgiveness means that you must play nice. They then wonder why they keep getting hurt.

Realize that bullies only see forgiveness as a weakness and stupidity. They view forgiveness as a green light to continue their abuse. Why? Because they assume you’ll always be okay with it.

Forgiveness doesn’t obligate you to interact with bullies. It doesn’t mean you continue to be someone’s fool. You can forgive someone and still realize that they’re no good.

Toxic people are dead weight, and though you may forgive them, you realize that it’s still best to keep them at arm’s length.

How to Recover from Bullying:

You’re strong enough to forgive but wise enough to avoid toxic people.

You avoid them because you realize that these people will only take your forgiveness for foolishness. Because these people have a history of pushing your boundaries, you’re forgiving yet assertive.

Forgiveness is great because it gives you peace of mind. However, if you continue to allow these people to have a place in your life, they’ll continue to take advantage of you.

You don’t have to be mean to or mistreat them. However, no law says you have to trust them again. In fact, you shouldn’t trust them.

Some people you must forgive from afar.

The Importance of Forgiveness

Forgiving your bullies and anyone who’s ever wronged you isn’t easy. However, it’s the most important thing you can do for yourself.

I know, I know! I can practically hear the groans of dread and scoffs coming from a few already. To be honest, I once had the same attitude myself anytime someone advised me to forgive.

I wasn’t ready to because I hadn’t healed yet.

How to Recover from bullying:

You must heal before you can forgive

Sometimes, you need time to process the abuse you suffered and heal before you can forgive.  I understand because I’ve been there. And only you can know when you’re ready.

Again, forgiveness doesn’t mean that the transgression they committed against you is okay. And, it does not mean that you have to buddy up with the person who wronged you.

But when you’re ready to forgive, it will only benefit you, not your attacker.

 It took me several years to forgive my classmates. It was why I didn’t go to the ten or twenty-year class reunion. I had no desire to see their faces. I was just damn glad they were out of my life.

As long as I stayed away from my former schoolmates and they stayed away from me, I was happy. But when I’d see one of them on the street, I’d turn and walk away without giving them so much as a “hi” or “kiss my ass.”

To heal and forgive, you must allow yourself to feel the emotions.

When you’ve been a target of bullies, it’s only natural to feel anger, resentment, and disgust. To heal, we must allow ourselves to go through the pain and raw emotions.

Never bury the pain. Never keep it stuffed down inside because you’re afraid to make anyone angry or uncomfortable. Why? Because it will only fester if you do.

You will internalize everything you’ve been through, which is the worst thing you can do. It will come out sooner or later in a very destructive rage or physical illness, such as a heart attack.

How to Recover from Bullying:

It’s okay to feel sad. Just don’t dwell on it.

Take your time and feel your emotions as long as you need to. Go somewhere private and cry if you need to. Crying doesn’t mean that you’re weak. It means that you’re a human being.

Please do whatever you need to do to get it off your chest. The sooner you process those bad feelings, the sooner you can forgive and move on to a better life.

Just don’t stay in that dark place for long. Don’t set up your tent and live there!

Be open about your anger and talk to a friend, family member, or therapist. Tell them you’re pissed. Speak out about the abuse. But get it out! And realize there will be those who won’t like it.

Understand that, in this world, some people won’t mind wiping their feet all over you. However, they will be greatly offended when you become angry about it and speak out.

There will be those who expect you to be okay with something they know good and well they wouldn’t be OK with if it were done to them. But tell those people to get lost because they don’t matter. What matters is that you care for yourself and put yourself first.

It’s okay to speak up and defend yourself.

Why should you give a ticker’s damn about their feelings? They never gave a damn about yours. So, never let those ignoramuses make you feel guilty for speaking out and responding in kind!

Tell them what you think and let it out. But do it constructively. Put some bass in your voice. Be firm, but don’t yell. A certain amount of cursing is expected when you’re pushed too far.

But don’t drop any F-bombs. Raise your voice if you need to, but don’t scream and yell. Screaming and yelling will only incite toxic bullies to push your buttons to see you react. Then they will tell anyone who’ll listen that you’re “mentally unstable.”

I’m glad to say that I eventually healed and forgave them. Doing this felt like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. And when I forgave, I found a peace I hadn’t known in years.

I was able to move on through reading, researching, and writing about bullying. But first, I had to heal!

How to Recover from Bullying:

Forgiveness is the prerequisite for re-empowerment.

This bears repeating. It’s not about letting anyone off the hook. It’s about setting yourself free from toxic emotions that hold you back.

This message is for targets of bullying today and for survivors. Forgive them when you’re ready. I can tell you that for me, there’s truly no better feeling!

Let go of grudges.

Anytime you hold on to grudges, that individual controls you. They may have exerted control over the years they bullied you. But you don’t have to let them control the rest of your life.

Let me put it another way, holding onto anger doesn’t hurt the person it’s aimed at. It hurts you. Why? Because the people you have grudges against either don’t know about it, or they don’t care.

While you’re sitting around stewing over someone who did you wrong, that person couldn’t care less. They’re going on with their lives and not giving you a thought. So, why should you allow them to take up space in your mind?

Forgiveness is the only solution. It’s the only way that you will be able to take back control of your life.

If you want to be happy, successful, and live in peace, forgive those who wronged you. It’s the only way!

How to Recover from Bullying:

Never allow Yourself to Hate Your Bullies

Sadly, hate is too easy for bullying targets to get sucked into. When others have treated you so horrifically for long enough, you lose faith in humanity.

A person who is the object of bullying begins to believe that all people are self-serving and enjoy seeing others suffer. They soon become the very ones they’re suspicious of. I’ve been there.

Targets of bullying often think that there is justification for their hate. However, does this intense loathing serve any purpose or have benefits? No!

No matter how some creep may have wronged you, never give in to hate. Because it is poisonous! Not to the other person but to YOU!

Here’s Why:

  • It burns you up inside. It eats down into your very soul and prolongs feelings of hurt, depression, and downright misery.
  • Again, it doesn’t hurt your enemy. It hurts you because nine times out of ten, the person you hate either doesn’t know about it or doesn’t care.
  • You give up your blessings. Also, you forego any opportunities that would otherwise come your way. You invite negativity and evil into your world instead. Hatred causes you to forego your own happiness, and life is too short to be anything but happy.
  • Again, while you are sitting around stewing over some idiot who has wronged you in the past, they aren’t thinking about you.
  • It can destroy your happiness and prospects.
  • It skews your judgment and ability to think clearly.
  • It causes you to make horrible decisions- decisions that can alter the entire trajectory of your life.
  • It numbs your conscience and dulls your reasoning capabilities.
  • You will condone things that you would otherwise deem immoral and evil.
  • You will approve of the most depraved, heinous, and atrocious atrocities directed toward the one you hate. Yet you will condemn it if it’s against anyone else, even a total stranger.
  • It prevents you from recovering.
  • It is a sick and twisted obsession, and it can take over your life if you allow it to.

As a result, you will never recover from bullying.

It Serves No Purpose

While you are holding grudges and plotting ways to get back at them, that person is getting on with life. The person who hurt you doesn’t care about you.

They are not thinking about you. So why do you allow them to live rent-free in your head? They are a complete waste of brain activity!

Hate, insecurity, grudges, and excessive anger are all garbage in your life. And they need to be disposed of.

It’s time to take out the trash and take back the peace and happiness that you not only deserve but have a divine right to.

You deserve to be happy. And the only way you will find happiness is to let go of any grudges and hate and replace them with love and acceptance. It is what I had to do before I could recover from bullying and finally be happy again.

 

How to Recover from Bullying:

What hate does to the hater

It eats the hater’s soul out from the inside. Their minds are so consumed that all they can focus on is ways to harm the object of their hatred.

It causes them to give a pass to things they would otherwise deem the most depraved and heinous. That is, as long as they’re done to the person they despise.

Hate can turn the kindest humans into the vilest monsters. If it’s someone they loathe who is being abused, they will stand by and watch it happen with smiles on their faces.

If you’re bullied and the object of animosity, your bullies have a sick and twisted obsession with you. They can’t get you out of their minds, and they want to hurt you as much as they possibly can.

Yes! You read that correctly. Hate is an obsession. And it won’t destroy you alone. It will ruin your bullies, too.

You can choose to let your haters get to you or not.

You have the delicious power to re-frame your thinking and see their hatred for what it is. It comes from something inside them; it has nothing to do with you.

They are only poisoning themselves with it. So, sit back, eat your popcorn, and watch them eat their hearts out and self-destruct.

As a survivor of severe bullying and peer-abuse, I’ve seen the faces of hate- up close and personal. And let me tell you, it’s ugly! And dangerous!

I’ve looked into the eyes of my bullies- deep into their eyes- down into their souls! And I genuinely believe that if there weren’t a law against murder, I wouldn’t be here today.

I know what it looks like. I’ve felt its powerful and painful sting and been paralyzed by it. As much as I don’t like to admit it, I even directed it toward others in those days.

But I’ve also learned that there’s dignity in being hated.

How to Recover from Bullying:

Indifference is Much Better than Hate

Indifference is better. Why? Because with indifference, you couldn’t care less. You couldn’t care less if the person is doing good or bad, what he thinks, what he says, or what he does.

On the other hand, with the former, you care because you want the despised person to suffer. There’s a strong desire to ensure nothing good happens to the other person.

And you obsessively seek to destroy them and their life. You want to make sure all opportunities are closed off to them. This is what animosity does. It causes you to obsess over the hated.

So, if you’re a target of bullies, let them go ahead and hate on you. But don’t return the animosity. When you refuse to despise those who wronged you, you recover from bullying so much faster.

Instead, be indifferent toward them; do that by stopping your thoughts about them. Stop caring what others think. Forgive them. Recover. Then move on and do your thing, baby!

How to Recover from bullying:

Summary:

  • To recover from bullying, you must forgive your bullies.
  • Forgiveness isn’t letting anyone off the hook; it’s setting yourself free.
  • Get rid of any hatred because it will only rot you out from the inside and hinder recovery.
  • Realize that there is dignity in being despised. So, don’t give your bullies the dignity they don’t deserve. On the same token, if you are the object of hatred, smile. Because your enemy is giving you dignity without realizing it.
  • Through forgiveness, you recover from bullying much faster.

This post showed you how to recover from bullying so that you can move on to peace and happiness.

Related posts you’ll enjoy:

1. Healing from Bullying: 11 Amazing Recovery Tips

2. Recovery from Bullying: Journey to Healing

3. The Importance of Forgiveness

4. Forgiveness Does Not Require Reconnection  

How to Turn a Bully into a Buddy

‘Want to know how to turn a bully into a buddy? I did it, and you can too. Here’s how.

how to turn a bully into a buddy

In this post, you will learn how to turn a bully into a buddy so that you can win by turning an enemy into a friend.

Once you learn all these cool details, you will turn bullies who are easily won over into the best of friends, and they will wonder why they ever hated you to begin with. But, more importantly, you will have rewarding friendships that last a lifetime.

This post is all about how to turn a bully into a buddy so you can win without throwing a punch or showing hostility.

How to Turn a Bully into a Buddy

Believe it or not, you can turn a bully into a buddy. However, it depends on the person you are dealing with. With the right attitude and the proper techniques, some bullies are easy to turn into friends.

However, many bullies are resistant to any kindness you show them. Therefore, you shouldn’t waste your time with them. Just let them go. It’s the best thing to do when someone is that determined to dislike you.

Here is a true story of personal experience.

Shelly (not her real name) was one of my most vicious bullies in school. When we passed one another in the hallway or at a ballgame, we would not hesitate to exchange nasty insults.

We would growl, “Bitch!”, “Whore!” “Skank!” every time we saw each other. Thinking up ways to degrade and slut-shame each other was always a top priority during these little meetings.

Twenty years later

Fast-forward twenty years, in late 2007, I went to a karaoke show at the Moose Lodge on the outskirts of town. I wanted to celebrate my courage to break off my recent 2 1/2 year-long abusive relationship.

Therefore, I decided to reward myself with a fun girls’ night out.

When I arrived at the Moose Lodge with a few friends in tow, the first word I heard was, “Oh my God! Not that bitch!” Honestly, I thought the verbal assault was directed at someone else until I looked up and saw her.

There Shelly stood, pool cue in one hand, the other hand resting on her boyfriend’s back. Her eyes and brows narrowed into little slits in her face and bore into me like a sharp object.

I had not seen her in two decades. And I wondered how she’d managed to drag around so much hate for so many years. After all, I had forgotten entirely about her amid juggling bills, a job, family, and other adult priorities.

How to Turn a Bully into a Buddy:

I didn’t realize that Shelly was fighting her own demons.

Sadly, I also had to do some self-reflection. I discovered that maybe I, too, had some unresolved hatred. Only it had been a case of out of sight, out of mind.

I’d soon learn that that night, Shelly was at the lowest point of her life. Life had not been kind to her either. And she was lashing out. I couldn’t hate her. I could only feel bad for her.

It seemed that, even twenty years, two marriages, and children hadn’t been enough to erase the teenage animosity she still held. We lived in a small Southern town. And in small Southern towns, few people forget the past.

Therefore, it’s easy for the reputation you had in your teens to follow you for the rest of your life. Sadly, this is still how it is in a small town.

The turning point

Having always loved music and had a strong voice, I got up and sang one of my favorite songs. Everyone cheered once I was finished. After I sat down, Shelly sat down beside me and was very impressed with my performance.

She told me she admired my voice and had always known I could sing.  However, she didn’t think I was that good. At first, I was flabbergasted. This was the first positive remark I’d heard from her.

Nevertheless, I was grateful. I smiled and gave her a gracious “Thank you. It’s good to see you again after all these years.”

We continued to talk, and she took some pictures out of her purse to show me. Those pictures were those of her talents – woodwork and paintings. They were the most beautiful works I’d ever seen.

This lady was very talented, and I wouldn’t deny it. I truly loved her work and could not stop looking at those pictures and complimenting her. She was truly an expert in woodworking and oil painting.

It was at that point that the dynamics of our relationship changed for the better. We exchanged phone numbers and soon began calling each other. Also, we texted cute little funnies back and forth.

Next, we began inviting each other to family outings and cookouts. Also, we started meeting each other in town for lunch or coffee.

How to Turn a Bully into a buddy:

One of my worst bullies became one of my best friends.

We soon became the greatest of friends, and I grew to love Shelly very much. We often talked about how we had missed out on what could have been a wonderful friendship years ago.

“Boy! We were clueless back then, weren’t we?” Shelly laughed. I laughed and readily agreed. She was right. We were kids with big mouths and bad attitudes.

The past couldn’t be changed. Therefore, we were content to go from there and make our friendship as fun as possible.

The moral of the story.

Nothing is impossible. It is always possible to turn a bully or enemy into a friend. All it takes is to break down that wall and show the other person genuine interest.

Everybody loves it when you are interested in them, their likes, and how things are going in their lives. Even some of the coldest and meanest of people soften toward anyone who tries to understand them.

How to Turn a Bully into a Buddy:

We all want the same things.

As humans, we all have a certain degree of selfishness. We all desire the same things- to be loved, appreciated, and respected.

Everybody has a void waiting to be filled. If we can fill the void by making the person feel loved and that they belong, we will make them feel wanted.

It is said that people may forget what you said, but they never forget how you made them feel. If you can make them feel like they’re the only person in the room, it’ll be the difference between gaining a friend and keeping an enemy.

Through our many talks, I found out that the girl I thought was so cruel was a girl who didn’t feel loved by anyone. She was just as sad as I was, but had put on a tough exterior. Also, she had suffered incidents of bullying herself, and it still hurt her immensely.

I didn’t know that I would eventually lose Shelly to a devastating disease.

Sadly, my beautiful friend passed away eight years ago from cancer. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t miss her and think of her.

I’ll never forget that night at the karaoke club, the night Shelly and I became close friends. We remained as close as sisters until the day she died.

By showing her genuine interest, without fakery, I turned one of my most resistant bullies into one of my best friends. And I’m so thankful that we got the chance to be besties.

We discovered that the other person was really a great person who had been hiding a lot of past hurts. We were both broken people! Others had mistreated us both. And that commonality is what brought us closer.

I thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent together, and I miss her…I miss her so much. Fly high, Shelly! Until we meet again on those golden streets!

Here are the steps on how to turn a bully into a buddy.

1. Show Genuine interest in them.

You can’t just act like you’re interested in them; you must be interested in them. In other words, if you aren’t really interested in the person, don’t fake it. People can sense when you’re being fake. Your body language will tell them.

Therefore, show genuine interest in the person. This means showing interest in their hobbies and interests. Also, it means asking how things are going in their lives.

2. Make eye contact and lean in when they speak.

This shows that you want to hear what they have to say. And, trust me on this. They will appreciate it very much.

3. Ask how they’re doing.

When you ask how someone is doing, it shows that you care about their well-being and want them to do well. And people appreciate it.

4. How to Turn a Bully into a Buddy:

Remember that everyone wants and needs the same things.

Just as you want people to love and respect you, so does everyone else. If you keep this universal truth in the back of your mind, you will be a true friend. Therefore, you will attract true friends.

5. Have their back.

If they are going through a difficult time, be there for them. Be the source of support they need. And if someone mistreats them, stand up for them. Let them know that you will stand behind them when someone bullies them.

6. Find things you both have in common.

In other words, if you and the other person have been through the same things, share that. If you both like rock music, share that too. People are attracted to those who are most like them. They will befriend those they share the same experiences with.

To make a friend, you must first be a friend. Therefore, extend your friendship by making the person feel good when you are around.

This post is all about how to turn a bully into a Buddy so that you can defeat an enemy without ever showing hostility. More importantly, you can be the friend they need.

Related posts you’ll enjoy:

1. How to Make Friends when Everyone Hates You: 4 Tips and Tricks

2. Flattery vs Compliment: 7 Signs Bullies are Buttering You Up

Let It Make You or Break You: Being a Victim of Bullying

“Let it make you or break you.” You’ve heard the term. Here’s how to overcome bullying so that you can move on to peace, happiness, and success!

let it make you or break you

In this post, you will discover that, no matter how severely you are bullied, you still have the power to determine the outcome. Let it make you or break you.

Once you learn all about this vital truth, you will be compelled to let it make you better instead of bitter.

This post is all about the choice you must make, whether to let it make you or break you, so that you can make the right decision.

Let It Make You or Break You

Understand that simply caring about anyone or anything is going to be painful. It’s why so many who were once kind and caring people are now cold, hard, angry, and bitter.

These people were relentlessly bullied, and they allowed it to make them cold and mean. They are often those who adopt the “I’m going to get you before you get me” attitude.

Bullying has a way of taking it all out of you. It doesn’t only take away your self-esteem, confidence, energy, and happiness. It also strips away your love and kindness, your health —even your will to live.

But only if you let it!

Bullying will either make or break you. It will either wise you up or dum you down. And it will make you better or bitter. Either way, these results are up to you.

Bullying changes a person, no doubt about it. But don’t let it make you bitter. Let it make you better!

You still have the power to determine your outcomes.

Being the object of bullies is a hell that only a few people can comprehend. If you aren’t careful, it can very easily turn you from a kind and caring human being to one of two things:

  • an angry, bitter. distrusting and mean-spirited person
  • a sad, sullen, and withdrawn individual.

Bullying can either make or break you. Sadly, so many people end up broken. But I want you to know that it doesn’t have to be this way. You still have a choice of what you do with it.

If you continue practicing self-care, chances are the bullying you experience won’t have as much impact. So don’t—I repeat—DON’T give up! EVER!

I say this because I’m living proof. I’m a very happy, healthy, and successful adult. But if you knew me during high school, you never would’ve thought that I would ever make it as far as I have.

The bullying didn’t break me. It made me! I consciously chose not to let it break me. And you, too, have that choice. Being bullied is never good. But it not only made me a stronger, more resilient, and compassionate woman.

Let it Make You or Break You:

Being bullied can be a powerful motivator.

It also motivated me.

It gave me the drive to pursue my goals and dreams. Also, it gave me a purpose. And that purpose is to spread awareness of the bullying epidemic, which seems to be sweeping the globe.

It gave me the drive to become a published author and be a voice for those who are too afraid to speak out. It can do the same for you, too!

But understand this: If you have a dream, there will be people along the way who will do their best to discourage you. Why? Because if you flourish, it will compel them to take a long look at their own mediocrity.

It’ll be as if you’re holding a mirror up to them and showing them a reflection of who they really are. You will be a walking reminder of their own personal failures.

Therefore, no matter how others may treat you, you must continue to follow your dreams. You must do what makes you happy. Never shrink yourself down to make someone else feel better about themselves.

Tune out the voices of toxic people.

You must mute the voices of these toxic people and get them out of your life, if possible. And do it as quickly as you can. Then continue pursuing and achieving your goals, because life is too short not to.

You only get one shot at life. Make it count! Do what fulfills you and live life to the fullest! You can do it!

Let it Make You or Break You:

Bullies May Turn Others Against You, but Never Allow Them to Turn You Against You!

No matter what other people may think of you, you are the only one who knows who you truly are. Bullies love spinning smear campaigns and turning others against you.

Why? Because it’s the only way they can make their lies and accusations seem valid. However, no matter how convincing the bullies are or how many believe them, it doesn’t make the talk true. Remember that reputation doesn’t equal character!

Only you can judge who you really are, nobody else can do that. They may try. They may think they know you. But do they really?

I know it’s difficult not to question yourself when it seems that everyone hates you. Anyone who finds themselves in this situation would ask themselves, “What did I do?” or “What did I say?”

It’s only a natural human reaction to being ostracized. In other words, it’s difficult not to blame yourself.

But please, for your own self-esteem, do not blame yourself. Remember that the problem lies with the bullies, not with you. Their behavior reflects on them, not you.

Therefore, you are not responsible for their ugly behavior. Believe it!

You must love yourself even if others don’t.

Continue to love yourself. Continue to be true to your own heart! Keep doing the things that give you pleasure. Surround yourself with those who love you and want the best for you.

Why? Because when everyone bullies you, you must ‘baby’ your self-esteem! Bullies may turn everyone else against you! Just don’t allow them to turn you against yourself.

You have no reason to hate yourself. So, love yourself even when it seems that others hate you. I promise you that your self-esteem will thank you for it! You will thank yourself for it!

Let it Make You or Break You:

Avoid Self-Pity

It all comes down to you. You are responsible for your successes and your happiness. Happiness is a choice, not something that magically happens to only certain people.

It’s okay to cry when someone hurts you. It’s OK to be hurt, angry, and sad. In fact, you need to allow yourself to feel.

So, allow yourself to be angry. Permit yourself to cry it out. Just don’t unpack your things and live in that dark place.

Understand that your bullies are cowards and fighting demons of their own. Only they are doing it the wrong way. And their mistreatment of you only proves it.

So, never let your tormentors cause you to feel sorry for yourself because self-pity is so unattractive and socially repelling! The only thing it does is bring more misery and repel people.

Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, try positive self-talk. Begin praising yourself for all your good qualities. And know in your heart the good you bring to this world.

Also, realize what a blessing you are to the people who love you. Because the more you love yourself and the less self-pity you live in, the easier it will be to find solutions.

Let it Make You or Break You:

You Are Responsible for your own life.

Let’s face it. Life isn’t fair.

It’s the truth. It never has been and never will be. Whether you’ve been mistreated and cheated, no one owes you anything. But you owe it to yourself. And you have every right to pursue and achieve happiness and make a good life for yourself.

No one owes you anything. You owe it to yourself.

God deals each of us a hand of cards. Some people get a crappy hand and some, a lucky hand. However, the trick is to play the hand you’re dealt wisely.

It’s the luck of the draw. Nevertheless, you have the choice of whether to move up, stay where you are, or descend. In other words, if you don’t like where you are, you can move upward.

It may take time and a ton of hard work. But if you want it bad enough, you will do what you must do to achieve it.

empower yourself by ditching the word “fair”

People need to man up (or woman up). You must accept that the world isn’t all unicorns, rainbows, fairies, and pixie dust.

In short, the world isn’t fair. Sadly, I see many victims of bullying saying, “It’s not fair!” And, though I hate to admit it, I did the same once upon a time.

But since when has life ever been fair?

Banish the word “fair” from your vocabulary and start working toward your goals. I guarantee that you’ll be much happier.

Let it Make You or Break You:

Try to Avoid Complaining.

When you’re being bullied, it’s easy to complain about it. However, when you whine and complain, you focus only on the problem, not on possible solutions. This is why others don’t like, nor do they respect, a complainer.

If you need to get something off your chest, that’s okay. However, there is a time and place for it. However, complaining won’t change things.

Complaining always comes from powerlessness! It comes from weakness. It stems from feelings of powerlessness and a victim mentality. Moreover, it comes from laziness and a lack of personal responsibility.

Sure. Everyone has times when they must blow off a little steam. However, when you do it every time something doesn’t go your way, it becomes a problem.

So, which would you rather do? Let it make you or let it break you? If you let bullying break you, they win. But if you let it make you, then you become the winner.

And how do you empower yourself? Learn to love yourself. Practice confidence. Become your own hero!

This post was all about the decision to let it make you or break you so that you will be encouraged to take the steps you need to overcome bullying.

Related posts you’ll enjoy:

1. How to Disarm a Bully: 13 Clever Comebacks that Work Wonders 

2. Learning to Love Yourself: 11 Reasons Self-Love is Most Important

3. Bullying and Self Confidence: 7 Steps to Keeping Your Confidence Up When People Bully You  

4. Confidence-Building Techniques: 15 Powerful Tips You Can Use

leaving town to escape bullying reddit

Leaving Town to Escape Bullying: 7 Reasons it’s a Good Idea

‘Want to know why leaving town to escape bullying is sometimes the best idea? Here, you’ll find out the exact reasons, in detail, why moving to a new area could be the best decision you’ll ever make.

leaving town to escape bullying

“A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” – Mark 6:4

Therefore, in this post, you will learn why you may need to consider leaving town to escape bullying.

Once you learn all about this vital information, you will be compelled to make the changes you need to have a better life.

This post is all about leaving town to escape bullying and why it could be the best thing you can ever do for yourself.

Leaving Town to Escape Bullying

You want to live bully-free. You long for others to give you space and the chance to relax, be yourself, and live a rewarding and meaningful life.

Moreover, you want opportunities to flow into your life and to live by your own standards. If people bully you, you probably desire to reinvent yourself and attract love and respect.

Unfortunately, to do this, you will have to leave the area if everyone bullies you. Here’s why this is a good idea.

1. People will always know you as the label they stuck you with.

If you don’t move, everyone will never forget you as that “loser,” or that “whore.” They will only remember you as that “lowlife,” that “nut-ball,” or whatever label they stuck you with. Therefore, no one will give you a chance, no matter what you do.

Moreover, Everyone will know you as the kid whom everyone bullied and got away with it. They’ll always have you in their mind as “Everybody’s bitch.”

As a result, they will treat you as such. And they will do it long after graduation, especially if you live in a small town or rural area.

So, why not consider leaving if you can afford it?

2. Leaving Town to Escape Bullying:

In a New Town, People Will Likely Welcome You.

In a new geological area, you will be the new kid in town. You will be that new kid who is mysterious, intriguing, and beguiling!

You will be the person everyone is anxious to meet because they feel that you’re full of hope and promise. When you leave for a new area, you can reinvent and redefine yourself.

You can rewrite your own story and give a stellar first impression, then let it speak for itself. As a result, you can be successful at anything. And you can attract endless opportunities for love, friendship, and advancement.

3. If you stay, no one will give you a chance to rise above.

But back in the old town, you’re the kid who was desperate for attention. In other words, others will view every success you enjoy as another ploy to show off and impress others.

Also, there’s a high likelihood that you will provoke their jealousy. And they will treat you even worse as an adult.

In contrast, any failure will be seen by others as an “I told you so” moment. It will confirm to them that you really are a loser.

However, in a new area, your value comes from what you put out. You are judged by the fruit you bear, not who you are.

Whereas, in the old town, you are judged by your reputation, which was ruined in school. Just because of who they think you are, they will adjust their attitudes to reflect hostility.

Therefore, leaving town saves you from all of that.

4. Leaving town to Escape Bullying:

In the old town, people will have already made up their minds.

In a locale where you were bullied, nobody will be interested in how much you’ve grown as a person. They won’t want to hear about any successes you’ve enjoyed or accomplishments you’ve made. Why?

Because it would only force them to consider that maybe you’re not such a bad person after all. As a result, it might quiet their own judgment of you.

Think about it. No one wants to be wrong about anything. Therefore, they’ll only dig their heels in and double down on their judgments and attitudes.

Again, leaving town and going where no one knows you gives you a chance to re-establish yourself.

5. Without leaving town, you’ll Never Discover Your True Potential.

It’s next to impossible to discover your true potential when others define you by who they think you are. Their perceptions of you will always be negative, so they will do everything they can to keep you in your place.

It’s a box you will never be able to get out of, no matter what. However, when you leave and move to a new environment, you will more likely advance. You’re likely to get the breakthrough you’ve waited for so long.

6. Leaving town to Escape Bullying:

Opportunities will open up for you.

You could become an expert at something later in life. And others would respect you for it anywhere else. However, if you took that expertise to the old town, only a scant few would acknowledge it.

But if you leave and move to a new locale and show what you know, then you’ll likely have notoriety.

But more importantly, you should consider leaving so you can finally have peace. Do it because your happiness and your sanity depend on it.

Why would you stay in a place where people constantly watch you every move? Moreover, why would you stay where people unfairly judge and mistreat you?

Why stay where you’ll only suffer more bullying in the future? Also, why live where people will more than likely bully you out of every job you find?

Moreover, why risk bullies harassing you at the supermarket? Why continue to live under the threat of hoodlums jumping you in the parking lot outside the local Dairy Queen?

7. You can always return for a visit if you have family in the old town, but you don’t have to live there.

You can always return a few years later after you’ve built your confidence and social and creative portfolios. However, don’t be surprised if you notice all the things that suck about the old town.

And, one of the things that will suck the most is the reception you get from the people there. Therefore, if you have family there, stop in for a visit. However, do it on a low key.

Another thing that will most likely disappoint you is that you will have experienced more life changes than anyone who stayed. Therefore, they would only bore the crap out of you.

Leaving Town to Escape Bullying:

It’s best to get out of Dodge

Leaving town isn’t running, and it isn’t being chicken. It’s finding a place where you can flourish and have a better life. There’s nothing wrong with that. And there’s no shame or blame in that.

Go to a brand-new place and rediscover yourself. You want to get beyond the confines of your reputation, and the only way to do that is to pack your bags and leave.

When you escape bullying, you escape everything that comes with it. You escape mental and physical abuse, and you also escape unfair judgment. And the best part is that you escape stagnation.

Leaving town is the only way you’ll become what you want to be and move up in the world! Once you move to a new area and get re-established, you’ll have a level of respect, influence, safety, and best of all, freedom that you never would’ve achieved had you stayed in your home area!

You either leave or stay and embrace the Suck.

I realize that some cannot leave, especially children or adults who can’t afford it. Life circumstances can sometimes trap victims of bullying in a school or town that hates them.

It’s easier to get out of a toxic environment when you’re an adult who others bully at work. You can transfer, and if you can’t transfer, you can always quit.

However, when you’re a minor, it’s almost impossible. What if your family cannot afford to move to a new school district? Also, what if your parents refuse to move or to transfer you? What if your parents can’t afford to homeschool you?

There’s nothing worse than being stuck in a toxic environment and in a horrible situation. When everyone in the school or area is bullying you and there’s no way of escaping it, it’s the feeling of entrapment!

Just imagine finding yourself in this situation, and there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it! You can’t get away from it! You’re just stuck there!

So, what do you do? You embrace the suck.

Embracing the suck means that you grin and bear it. You accept the god-awful, crappy mess that plagues your life because there’s no other choice.

Leaving town to Escape Bullying:

Sadly, some people have no choice but to stay.

In other words, you’re just plain screwed, and there’s no way out of it. You decide to live with it and make peace with the possibility that things may not get any better. And yes, it sucks!

Sadly, uncontrollable circumstances keep targeted kids in schools with a toxic culture of bullying. Finances keep adults stuck in neighborhoods full of people who hate them.

When a child is stuck in a school where bullying is rife, their classmates attack them daily. They attack them psychologically and physically.

Teachers and principals view these children unfavorably because bullies have convinced them that they are the instigators. Therefore, school staff are constantly watching them, waiting for any reason to drag them into the principal’s office.

These kids suffer from plummeting grades and poor school performance. Why? Because circumstances force them to stay in a toxic school.

As a result, they live in survival mode. And, unfortunately, preparing for a hostile learning environment takes priority over studying and learning.

Therefore, school staff see them as lazy and hopeless. And they refuse to give them the extra help they need.

Gee! That’s an awful lot of suck!

And how much suck can one child deal with?

Understand that if you’re a child dealing with these types of circumstances, you don’t have to “embrace the suck.” There’s always School Choice.

Nowadays, families can apply for vouchers to transfer their child to a new school. These vouchers have saved countless targets from years of bullying.

Also, there are other things you can do if, by chance, School Choice isn’t an option where you live:

  • document the bullying and have your parent or legal guardian help you with your documentation.
  • Also, depending on the jurisdiction you live in, hide a body cam or digital device somewhere on your person.
  • Thirdly, practice self-care.

And keep the faith. School Choice may not be available in your area now, but it doesn’t mean it won’t be later. You are not entirely powerless. Do the above three things because they are within your control.

When you document and record the bullying and practice self-care, you’ll not only change the dynamic. You’ll also feel so much better about yourself because you will have at least some control.

Leaving Town to Escape Bullying:

In conclusion

If you can’t leave, my heart goes out to you. However, if you can, you must consider doing so because leaving for greener pastures can change your life. Leaving town to escape bullying usually works out for the best. It gives you new hope.

It allows you to get re-established and start your life anew. You will meet new people who will welcome you because you’ll have no history with them.

Leaving town gives you a fresh start with a clean slate. And you won’t regret it. I promise you!

This post was all about leaving town to escape bullying to let you know that there is always something you can do to better your life and get away from bullying.

Related posts you’ll enjoy:

1. School Choice: Why it’s a Godsend for Bullied Kids! 

2. It Only Gets Better: There is Life After Bullying 

3. There’s Always Hope: 11 Things to Remember When People Bully You 

Why Bullies Label You Mentally Ill: 7 Reasons They Do It

‘Want to know why bullies label you mentally ill? Here are all the reasons they do it and how you can fight back.

why bullies label you mentally ill

When people label you “unhinged,” no one has to take you seriously ever again. Others will automatically doubt everything you do, good or bad.

In this post, you will learn why bullies label you mentally ill, so that you discover where the label comes from.

Once you realize these crucial facts, you will be able to counter the label more confidently and effectively, as you will understand its intentions.

This post will tell you why bullies label you mentally ill to alleviate any confusion you may have and to help you stand firm against the label.

Why Bullies Label You Mentally Ill

Anytime society sticks a person with the “mentally imbalanced” label, it can be worse than if they are deemed a criminal. Because at least people take criminals, even murderers and rapists, more seriously. What a crying shame!

Therefore, when bullies can con an entire community into deeming you unhinged, they can make you disappear and become irrelevant. And they can do it even after you’re dead.

The most insidious thing about this label is that it can make the labelled person doubt their own sanity. In other words, it’s not so much that they think you’re mentally imbalanced; it’s that they want you to believe it.

Why? Because if they can make you believe it, then you’re more likely to live up to it.

Furthermore, the cr4zy card is the easiest for bullies to play. Although they can never prove you’re a basket case, there’s no way you can prove that you aren’t one.

This Label is worse than the label, “criminal.”

This is why the mental health label is the most widely used among bullies and society as a whole. Also, it’s the most common form of gaslighting.

“Cray-cray” can be used as a last resort when bullies run out of options and can’t pin anything else on you. Think about it. They can’t easily label you a whore if you haven’t slept around.

Just the same, they can’t as easily label you a criminal if you don’t have a police record to prove it. And they can’t easily label you a thief if you never took anything that wasn’t yours.

Whereas, you can’t as easily disprove a mental imbalance. Therefore, the more you know about the ins and outs and the reasons behind its use, the better you can defend against it.

The best thing you can do in this situation is to keep your head and continue showing them up. It may take a while, but eventually the label does wear out. And when that happens, its effect will be lost.

Why Bullies Label You Mentally Ill:

3 Reasons Bullies Stick The “Cray” Label on you

Do you ever wonder why bullies attach labels, such as “unstable” or “mentally disturbed,” to you when you stand up to their abuse? Here are the reasons:

1. The unstable label is used by bullies as a last option

When there is nothing else they can pin on you, this is their last-ditch effort to stigmatize you. And, sadly, it works like a charm.

2. A mental imbalance is the most difficult to disprove.

Let’s say you’re a target of bullying and have the guts to stand up to the abuse.  The bully may tell everyone that you’re nuts, and everyone else may believe it, too.

There is no way the bully can prove that you are, in fact, unhinged. However, there’s no way you can prove that you aren’t. Therefore, the burden of proof lies with you. And proving that you aren’t mentally ill is the most difficult.

3. They’re trying to make you doubt your own sanity.

Bullies aren’t clueless. In fact, they probably know more about human nature than the average person. They’ve learned that if someone is told something a million times, they’re more likely to believe it, eventually.

And when you believe something about yourself, you will likely live up to it. Therefore, don’t you doubt your sanity for a second!

If you know that you are not mentally ill, say it! Tell them that you know what they are trying to do and that you don’t buy it!

Why Bullies Label You Mentally Ill:

People tend to believe the worst in others.

This is why the “cray-cray” label is just too easy to stick on anyone. People have a strong tendency to see the worst in others. And, again, the burden of proof lies with you.

It is damn hard to prove that you aren’t mentally ill when bullies attack you from every direction and wear you down. Why? Bullying is devastating to the victim’s mental health.

Therefore, when a person is bullied, they are at their worst.

The natural response is to react when attacked.

The natural human response is to react and defend oneself when attacked. Bystanders can very easily mistake your reaction for mental illness.

It happens when others walk in on you as you’re telling your bully where to stick it. Many times, they only catch the tail end of the confrontation.

Then they draw the wrong conclusions. Understand that this is what your bullies are counting on. Often, this is how they set it up.

Bullies have ways of making you look like you’ve completely “lost it” to any witnesses who happen to walk by.

Bullies do this all the time to discredit you and cover their behinds when they’re wrong! If the bully can make you look loony, then who’s going to believe you when you report the harassment?

And who’ll take you seriously the next time you let the bully have it? They’ll only sigh and think, “Uh-oh! There she goes again! She’s having another mental episode! That girl has gone completely batshit!”

Why Bullies Label You Mentally Ill:

The trick is to stand up to them calmly.

Please, for your own sake, don’t fall for it! Stand up to them! Look them in the eye, and you tell them, “You’re wrong, and you know you’re wrong! I’m not going to debate this any further with you!”

And you do it calmly.

Then walk away, leaving the bully standing there, slack-jawed. If the bully follows you and asks, “What’s your problem?” don’t explain it to them.

They’re not five years old, they already know. And you don’t owe them any more than what’s necessary. Therefore, say as little as possible.

Tell them, “You know what my problem is!”

The bully may continue to follow you and ask, “What did I do to you?”

You say, “You know what you did! Now get bent!”

The idea is not to beat around the bush. Get to the point and say it like you mean it. Be firm but don’t yell (yelling makes you look like a basket case).

The bully may not change their ways or their attitude toward you. But I promise! You’ll feel so much better about yourself knowing that you put your foot down and looked less “unstable” to any bystanders!

2 More Reasons Why Bullies Label You Mentally Ill and Why It Works

Unfortunately, the label of mental instability is the easiest and most effective label to stick to a person. Sadly, a label like this has loads of staying power. Again, it’s the hardest to disprove- especially when the object of it is being bullied and mobbed.

If people bully you, there’s a good chance you will be an emotional wreck. Chronic abuse does that to victims. So, there’s another reason the mental label is a clever label to pin to them.

The label is only used to discredit you.

When bullies label you as bonkers, it doesn’t mean they actually think you are. Allow me to explain further.

Bullies are big cowards. If they really and truly thought you were cuckoo, they wouldn’t mess with you at all. In fact, they wouldn’t come near you. Instead, they would do everything they could to stay out of your way and avoid poking the bear.

They’d go out of their way to be on their best behavior around you. Why? Because they know that if a person is, in fact, cray-cray, that person could rip their heads off and poop down their necks.

That person could go postal and wipe them all out, then go home and eat a sandwich. If a person with any common sense knows someone who is factually and utterly batshit nuts, their first instinct is to walk lightly around them. And they will do their due diligence to keep from setting that person off!

So, if your bullies don’t really think you’re unstable, why then do they label you as such?

4. Why Bullies Label You Mentally Ill:

To discredit you.

Your bullies aren’t clueless. They figure that eventually, you’re likely to get fed up with their crap. You will either report them or stand up to them.

And if everyone thinks you’re cray-cray, who’s going to take you seriously when you report the bullying?

5. To make you afraid to speak out or stand up to them.

They do it just in case you begin standing your ground or speaking out about the abuse. In other words, bullies employ this tactic to keep you quiet. Why?

Because if they can silence you, they can keep their reputations spotless. Moreover, if you know that people think you’re unstable, chances are that you’ll be too afraid to open your mouth about it.

And why not? Because you’re “mentally unstable,” people probably won’t believe you. They will only say that you probably have a severe case of paranoia.

6. To discourage you from defending yourself.

You’ll also be too afraid to fight back. If you do, you know that the bullies will only convincingly reverse roles and play victim.

Then, others will only assume that you went postal and hurt those poor, innocent bullies. Maybe they’ll think that you just threw a temper tantrum and began shouting and cursing people out for no reason. All because you’re “unhinged.”

 Again, it’s true that your bullies can never prove you’re mentally imbalanced. However, there’s also no way that you can confirm that you aren’t. And it’s why this label is just too easy to pen on someone and make stick. In fact, it shouldn’t be this easy and be so successful. But it is.

Do you see how this works?

Why Bullies Label You Mentally Ill:

Your bullies don’t think you’re nuts, they think you’re weak.

They only push that label because weakness or helplessness has a certain allure. And your helplessness may compel others to come to your aid.

Helplessness sparks a natural tendency to take care of the helpless. However, people are less likely to help someone they deem mentally ill.

Bullies instinctively know this. So, they label you mentally unhinged to strip you of that allure and appeal.

With the mentally ill label, bullies are better able to avoid being held accountable. And if they can successfully dodge responsibility, they get to continue hurting you freely and with impunity.

Therefore, you must understand that there’s a method behind the label of mental instability. If you’re aware of the motives behind it, you’ll be able to catch it and counter them with it.

7. To control how others view you.

It’s the oldest and most used tactic in the book! My classmates were no different. Bullies will always come back at you with the “mentally ill” label to control how others see you. And they’ll do it when they can no longer control you.

You see? When bullies no longer have power over you, they become anxious. They see you as a threat. So, they become desperate and afraid.

Refusing to be manipulated sends several messages to your bullies. And these messages threaten their sense of superiority, positions, and power.

Why Bullies Label You Mentally Ill:

What are these messages?

  • You see through their smokescreens.
  • You’re not afraid to tell them to go kick rocks.
  • You’re the opposite of what they think of you – strong and intelligent, not weak and foolish.
  • You put them in their place.
  • They can’t make you do anything you don’t want to do.
  • You don’t give a crap about what they say or think anymore.
  • You couldn’t care less about their approval.
  • They don’t matter to you anymore.
  • You no longer accept their definitions of you.

Understand that bullies have an over-inflated sense of their own importance. Thus, they feel entitled to mistreat you. They despise being told no, and they loathe anyone who will not be controlled. So, they use the mental health label to stigmatize you.

Then they weaponize it to punish you.

Therefore, if they can’t manipulate you, they’ll manipulate your relationships and the way others perceive you.

In closing

Attaching the mental illness label on someone is the worst form of gaslighting there is.

Once you understand the reasons and motives behind the mental illness label, everything makes perfect sense. As a result, you will feel a lot more confident in defending yourself. You will no longer be afraid to speak out. And you will no longer care what others think.

Knowledge is power, and it can bring peace of mind.

This post was all about why bullies label you mentally ill so that you realize the motives behind it and will be encouraged to defend yourself anyway.

Related posts you’ll enjoy:

1. Bullying and Mental Health Stigma: 5 Reasons Bullies Use It

2. Bullying Based on Mental Health: 9 Reasons Bullies Target Those with Mental Illness 

3. Weaponizing Mental Health: 7 Reasons Bullies Label You Mentally Ill 

4. Bullying Those with Mental Illness: 9 Reasons Why People Do It

5. Signs of Gaslighting: The 7 Signs You Must Know