‘Want to know the long-term effects of bullying that can last into adulthood? Here are all the symptoms of adult survivors that you need to know.
Childhood bullying, whether in school or in the neighborhood, can have lasting effects well into adulthood. Therefore, in this post, you will learn the long-term effects of bullying so that you can work on it if you recognize any of these after-effects.
Once you learn all about these traits, you will be able to get to the bottom of them and live happier and more productively.
This post is all about the positive and negative long-term effects of bullying so that you can move on to a more peaceful life.
Long-Term Effects of Bullying
The effects of school bullying can linger long into adulthood. There are signs and symptoms that only adult survivors of school bullying have. Some are healthy, and some are not. However, here’s a list of both the good and the bad.
1. Social Anxiety.
Bullying can cause you to withdraw from the social scene. And why not? Once you’ve been a victim of severe and long-term bullying, you no longer trust people.
It makes you insecure. You may feel shame. Or, you may fear rejection. Maybe you’re afraid of ridicule. Therefore, it seems safer just to stay away from people.
How you overcome this is to put yourself out there. And do it little by little. Make small talk with people. The trick is to step out of your comfort zone.
I guarantee you that the more you do, the more confident you’ll feel.
2. Long-Term Effects of Bullying:
Depression.
Depression often comes from powerlessness. And that’s what bullying does, it makes you powerless. Therefore, you will feel that there’s nothing you can do about the situation you’re in.
And this may persist even after the bullying is over with. And sadly, it can last a lifetime. However, know that there are steps you can take to heal and start thriving again.
If you need to, seek therapy. It just may help you overcome it.
3. Trust issues.
Bullies can cause you to lose trust in people. Once you’ve endured abuse for so long, you begin believe that all humans are cruel.
Therefore, you shut others out. Why? Because you think it is safer. You may become cold and mean. Or, you may be excessively secretive.
But you don’t trust people enough to let them in. Again, you must take steps to overcome lack of trust. And you can do this by mustering up the courage to talk to people.
Make small talk with someone in the grocery store. Or, you can say hello to someone on the street. Whatever you do, start small and slowly build.
Your self-esteem will thank you later.
4. Long-Term Effects of Bullying:
Harsh Inner critic.
Many survivors have an inner bully. In other words, they have an inner critic who judges every move.
That evil inner voice may call them ugly names. Or it may ridicule the decisions they make. Whatever it says to you, you must retrain that voice.
Therefore, the next time that voice starts putting you down, catch it. Then, replace those harsh words with those of love and praise.
This may feel strange at first. However, if you keep it up, you will soon train your inner voice to speak positive things.
5. Bitterness.
Many people become bitter after being bullied. They hold grudges and wish harm on those who’ve hurt them. As a result, they live the rest of their lives in misery.
But you don’t have to live that way. Realize that hate only hurts the hater, not the hated. Holding grudges doesn’t help you at all. It only eats you up inside.
Therefore, find ways to heal. Get rid of the animosity. Then you can take back your peace and be happy again. I guarantee it!
6. Long-Term Effects of Bullying:
You May Bully other adults.
Many survivors of school bullying become bullies once they’re adults. Why? Because if the bullying worked on them, then why not try it on others?
Because they feel powerless, they want to make others feel the same way. Then they can feel powerful.
However, if you’re one of these people, I want to tell you this isn’t the way to be. It only makes you just as bad as them. Moreover, you will make enemies fast!
Overcoming bullying means healing and being a friend to others. Therefore, use it to foster empathy. Be kind. Because kindness isn’t weakness. It is a strength!
7. May Want excessive time alone.
Some survivors avoid people. Therefore, they isolate themselves. This isn’t good because your fortress can become your tomb.
Human beings need connection. They need social experiences. Therefore, get out there and meet people. Don’t be shy.
As mentioned earlier, start small and build from there. You never know. You just might make a life-long friend.
8. Long-Term Effects of Bullying:
Contrary attitude.
Survivors of bullying sometimes become contrary adults. The reason is that they’ve had their power taken away. Moreover, they want to ensure that it never happens again.
Therefore, they deliberately go against the grain to snatch back their autonomy. They also do it to guard themselves from groupthink.
Some may do it to keep from appearing too nice.
If you’re one of these people, others may call you “stubborn.” Or they may call you “selfish.” However, know that it’s okay to be agreeable when you truly agree with something.
Just don’t be too agreeable. There’s a middle ground to everything.
9. No-Nonsense Attitude/Hard Nosed
Many survivors of childhood bullying grow into no-nonsense adults. In other words, they don’t have time for ignorance. And petty people get on their nerves.
Moreover, they don’t respond to stupidity. And they walk away from drama. Know that there is nothing wrong with this. It’s actually a healthy way to be.
The reason some former victims end up this way is that they had enough of that shit in school. Back then, there was little they could do about it.
However, now that they are grown, they have more control over who they allow in their lives. Therefore, it’s easier to dismiss petty people. And it’s easier to tell those who are toxic to get bent.
10. Long-Term Effects of Bullying:
Strong-Willed
Survivors of bullying tend to be strong-willed. In other words, if you tell them they can’t do something. They’ll do it anyway just to prove to you that they can.
If you’re this kind of person, you don’t let others tell you what to do. You don’t give a damn. You’re going to do what you want, even if it makes others angry. So, you’ll gladly give those who try to control you a double-barreled middle finger.
The reason survivors are stubborn like that is that they know what it’s like to have bullies control their lives. Therefore, they rebel against that by calling their own shots. And, to hell with what anyone else thinks.
Again, there is nothing wrong with this. It’s healthy to live life on your own terms.
11. Complex PTSD
Many survivors suffer from Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This is characterized by flashbacks, nightmares, and hypervigilance.
However, you can turn this around by seeking therapy. Therapists can teach you how to overcome CPTSD. Or, they can, at least, show you how to control it.
12. Long-Term Effects of Bullying:
A Will to Achieve Success
Some survivors use the bullying they suffered as motivation to do well in life. Therefore, they will excel academically. They will select high-paying jobs. Or they’ll create something, patent it, and sell it.
The reason some are so success-driven is that they’re angry at the injustice they suffered from bullies. However, they use their anger constructively.
Instead of sitting around and holding grudges, they get busy improving their lives. They work on themselves. They work toward their goals. And they achieve them.
This is also a healthy behavior. Therefore, do what you must for self-betterment. It will pay off in the long run.
13. Determination to live life on their terms
Past bullying gives many survivors the determination to live their lives on their terms. The reason for this is that they’ve had enough of what they didn’t want when they were kids.
Therefore, now that they’re adults, they have the power to begin building good lives for themselves. They go after what they want in life.
And they don’t stop until they get it. Moreover, they don’t allow others to tell them what they can and can’t do. Hence, they don’t live their lives on anyone else’s terms but theirs.
Again, there’s nothing wrong with this because it’s the healthy way to be.
14. Fierce Independence.
Survivors of bullying are fiercely independent. Why? Because chances are, they had little to no friends in school. As a result, no one helped them.
Therefore, they had to rely on themselves to survive. If they needed something, they had to find ways to get it themselves.
You see? They learned that nobody would give them a damn thing. Experience taught them that they didn’t need anyone to get where they wanted to go.
And when you have no one to support you but you, you learn real fast that only you are responsible for your own life.
This post was all about the positive and negative long-term effects of bullying so that you can use this knowledge to rebuild your life and take back your happiness.
Related posts you’ll enjoy:
1. Survivors of Bullying: How It Feels to Overcome
2. Adult Survivors of School Bullying: 19 Things They Do Differently
3. The Effects of Bullying: 17 Negative Results on Victims
4. Effects of Bullying on the Victim: 13 Symptoms of Bullied People