Bullying Story: Endurance, Survival, and the Will to Overcome

Here’s a bullying story. It’s a story of not only the will to survive but the will to overcome and begin thriving. Also, it’s a story of healing and re-empowerment.

bullying story

In this post, you will learn what it means to endure bullying, survive it and overcome it through a true bullying story. Also, you will see what life is like through the eyes of a bullying victim and later, a survivor and overcomer.

Once you learn all about these real-life experiences, you will know that you are not alone if you endure the same thing now. Moreover, you will understand that you, too, can overcome and look forward to a rewarding life with friends who truly care for you.

This post shares a bullying story filled with true-life experiences to offer you hope and encouragement.

Bullying Story

I didn’t experience bullying, nothing beyond usual teasing, until I moved to a small Tennessee town after having been an Army Brat and lived in several different areas. Until then, bullying had always been something that happened to kids in the movies.

When I became a target of severe and chronic bullying as a sixth-grader at the age of twelve, I began a long lesson in the human predator/prey dynamic and a battle for my dignity, safety, and my very soul.

During the sixth grade, I never fought back. My family had taught me that decent young ladies didn’t fight. So, I took the physical beatings, name-calling, and abuse. However, what I didn’t realize was that my classmates were growing accustomed to bullying me.

When the Bullying Escalates

When I entered seventh grade at the age of thirteen, the harassment by my classmates reached a fever pitch. The abuse my classmates subjected me to is called “poly-victimization.” They called me names and slandered me. Moreover, they would humiliate me with pranks. When the bullying grew out of control, they began threatening me and physically attacking me.

And after enough of it, I learned the hard way that I had two choices: either take a stand and fight back or get eaten alive. However, it seemed that the more I tried to set boundaries, the worse the bullying became.

The physical bullying was brutal. I suffered horrible beatings, and it escalated to the point of having a box cutter pulled on me and my life threatened.

Every morning before going to school, I would feel a huge lump in my throat and swallow hard. It took everything I had in me to step onto that school bus. Why? Because I knew what would be waiting for me as soon as I walked through the school entrance.

Bullying Story:

Enduring Daily Abuse

During P.E., I excelled at some sports but struggled with others. I loved volleyball and kickball, but basketball and baseball weren’t my strong suits. Music and writing stories were my gifts, not sports.

However, students and a few teachers judged me because I wasn’t an athlete or a member of a sorority. I was musically talented and creative. So, what they were doing was akin to judging a fish on its ability to fly.

In just two short years, I went from being a confident and outgoing kid to one who was sad and withdrawn.  Additionally, I transitioned from a student who consistently made the honor roll to one who earned C’s and D’s.

Schoolwork had always been so easy for me. I had been one of those lucky kids who didn’t have to pick up a book.

All I had to do was listen in class and complete my homework (which I could do in minutes). And I would ace every test. But in a matter of two years, the schoolwork went from being a piece of cake to being complicated and overwhelming.

Who can concentrate on schoolwork when they’re busy looking over their shoulder and dodging bullies? Who can learn effectively when they’re constantly in survival mode?

The Bullying Becomes Unbearable

The torment became next to unbearable. So much so that I attempted suicide at the age of fourteen. As a result, I spent a week in the ICU and almost didn’t make it.

It was a hell I would never wish on anyone, not even my worst enemy. My classmates had stripped me of every ounce of power I had.

Trying to keep a calm demeanor amid so much toxicity and desperately hanging onto my dignity with everything I had was exhausting! It felt as if they were holding me hostage. At times, teachers and a few school staff members would also join in the bullying.

Bullying Story:

When the victim Becomes a Bully

Because I felt powerless, I began to bully those who were even weaker than I was. The reason I did this was to reclaim some of the power bullies had taken from me. This is not something I’m proud of.

There was no one I could turn to. Back then, people considered bullying to be a normal rite of passage. Therefore, I had to deal with it on my own.

Anytime I spoke out about or reported the mistreatment, they shouted me down. The other classmates would tell me to “keep my mouth shut.”

Teachers and school staff blamed me for my own suffering. Other adults labelled me a whiner and ridiculed me because they saw speaking out as a sign of weakness. I received no help or relief.

The Stripping Away of Personhood

They never allowed me to be a human being. Moreover, they gave no margin for error. Instead, they would minimize or ignore any good deeds, accomplishments, and successes. And they would maximize any mistakes.

If I wore a dress and went to class all dolled up, I was trying to either impress people, get a date, or get laid. And if I wore my jeans the slightest bit tight, I looked like a whore.

If I cried, they would accuse me of being too sensitive. But if I laughed, they accused me of trying to get attention. If I became angry, they labelled me mentally unstable. But if I was friendly, I was either flirting or trying to kiss up. If I smiled, I was secretly plotting something devious.

They never allowed me to be myself, and it was exhausting. It felt as if I were suffering a slow and agonizing social murder.

Bullying Story:

The Transfer

The day came when two classmates attacked me from behind when I was four months pregnant with my first child. They threw me over a teacher’s desk, then kicked me as I lay curled in a fetal position on the floor.

All I could do was try to protect my unborn baby by shielding my growing belly with both arms. Luckily, my unborn child survived and came into the world healthy later that year.

After the last attack, I was done with Oakley High. I changed schools, and the bullying stopped. Words cannot tell you the relief I felt when I transferred to a new school! I could finally learn in a safer and less stressful environment!

A Safer Learning Environment.

I loved my new school. And I felt like a bird out of a cage! The feeling was of being released from a nearly six-year-long prison sentence. I had done my time in hell, and now I could put it all behind me. It was then that I began the process of rebuilding my life.

While riding in the car, on the way to my new school, I sat in the passenger seat, next to my then-husband. As he drove, I cried tears of joy.

It was hard to believe that I had finally escaped the persecution! The pain had grown so great I couldn’t even cry! It was all finally over, and I could start a new and better chapter in my life.

Sure enough, I went on to make friends with my new classmates, but more importantly, my grades skyrocketed! The transformation of my grades seemed to happen suddenly and like magic!

After five years, I made the honor roll again and then finally graduated.

I now lead a successful life and use what I went through to help bullied kids today. Anytime I hear of an innocent child bullied into suicide, it truly breaks my heart.

When People Judge Bullying victims who have given up, it makes me cringe.

What’s even more heartbreaking is the attitudes and remarks I hear from others around me when a tragedy like this happens! I often hear statements such as:

  • “But that boy was so quiet!”
  • “Really??? Still waters run deep!”
  • “But that girl always kept to herself!”
  • “No joke! Just as an AIDS patient keeps his diagnosis to himself!”
  • “Shame on him! He was such a coward!”
  • “Right! Anyone running through the woods from a wild boar would look like a coward to someone sitting safely in a tree! You spend a few years being bullied by everyone you know and see how mighty and brave you are! You’ll find out how quickly your life can go to crap!”

If you haven’t experienced it, you’ll never know what it is to be a target of bullying. I was fortunate enough to survive and move on to happiness and success. But many victims don’t, which is why writing about bullying and advocating for victims is my passion.

Bullying Story:

Although being bullied is never a good thing, I did get a few positive takeaways:

  • Having been bullied has made me appreciate the great friends I have today. It also gave me empathy and compassion for others and a desire to help those who endure the same!
  • Having been bullied made a strong woman out of me. It made me more determined never to quit until I reach a goal! Knowing that bullies often bully out of jealousy and fear is the motivation for me.’
  • Being bullied gave me the determination to love myself, put myself first, and the willingness to say “no” anytime I am asked or told to do something that does not feel right!
  • Having been bullied gave me the determination to follow my dreams, to do things I enjoy most, and to achieve success.
  • Having been bullied has given me hope. Because I know that if I can go through bullying and survive, then I can rise above anything!
  • It gave me a soft spot and a great willingness to fight for the underdog.
  • And lastly, it sharpened my BS detector, giving me the ability to read people, spot a bully instantly, and avoid being targeted!

Being a target of bullying almost broke me, yes! But in the end, it made me! Keeping a bullying journal is what saved me. So, I advise you to keep one. Bullying won’t last forever. If you’re a target of bullying and you don’t give up, you too can survive and emerge a winner!

This post was a bullying story to encourage you to keep going when things seem hopeless.

Related posts you’ll enjoy:

1. Encouraging Words for Bullying: You Can Overcome!

2. Bullying Journal: 8 Reasons You Should Keep One

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

it only gets better with time

It Only Gets Better: There is Life After Bullying

Do you know that you will eventually escape bullying and that it only gets better after you do? Here is the encouragement you need to keep hope alive.

it only gets better

Your situation may seem hopeless now. But trust me when I tell you that it won’t always be this way. Things will change, and sooner than you think.

In this post, you will learn that the bullying you suffer now will eventually end and that it only gets better from there.

Once you learn this incredible truth, you will be encouraged to keep pushing, keep holding on, and never give up.

This post is here to remind you that the bullying you suffer will end. Then, it only gets better from there. Keep going and you’ll soon be glad you did.

It Only Gets Better 

If you are a target of bullying, you must hold on. Although intense- even unbearable, your pain will only be temporary. I don’t say this lightly because I know what you must be thinking.

“But she doesn’t understand! Nobody understands! Nobody else is going through it! How can she possibly understand the daily hell I endure at work (or at school)?”

I do understand. Once upon a time, I was stuck in the same spot that you are in today. You want to smile, laugh, sing, and dance, only for others to beat it out of you! So strong is the desire to believe in yourself and see your value. Yet others repeatedly and deliberately tear you down!

The night always turns darkest before the dawn.

All you want is to speak and have your voice heard! But others only silence you with threats of physical harm and further degradation. The threat of suspension or the loss of your job and livelihood hangs over your head.

Also, the danger of having opportunities for future employment ruined looms over you. Or you face the possibility of a school suspension or expulsion.

Survivors know firsthand what it feels like. You want to move forward, but bullies keep holding you back.

You want to escape the torment. But you’re stuck in a toxic environment with toxic people, against your will!

I know the bewilderment when people curse your very existence. It’s terrifying when bullies bombard you with death threats.

They force you to sacrifice your needs and wants for theirs. It sucks to see others getting gratification and entertainment at your expense.

When people dehumanize you, it can be life-altering. Many others, just like you, have also felt the pain of being verbally bullied. Many even get slapped, kicked, and beaten.

It’s no fun when people scorn, disregard, and trample you underfoot. You don’t know how much I hurt for you.

It Only Gets Better:

Know that SOME PEOPLE UNDERSTAND and They care.

We know what it feels like. It’s like someone running you over with a truck. The driver then stops, shifts into reverse, and backs over you again.

Then, he shifts back into drive and mows over you yet again. He then stops the truck, opens the door, sticks his head out, and asks, “Are you dead yet?”

And if you show any signs of life- any whimper or movement, it only encourages the driver to close the door, shift into reverse again, and repeat. Therefore, he continues doing so until you finally succumb to the trauma and die.

Yes. This is how bullying feels. Bullies want to destroy you, and it seems that they won’t relent until they succeed at it.

But there is Hope!

You will not have to deal with these people forever. Karma does repay- in spades! If you keep believing in yourself, you will become successful and happy.

Moreover, your bullies won’t even matter to you when you reach success.

You are beautiful, intelligent, and awesome! And one day, you will cross paths with people who will see your worth and love you- unconditionally- just for being YOU!

You will find a teacher, school, supervisor, or employer who will see the value you bring. And they will see you as the asset you truly are!

Don’t give up. You are worth fighting for!

People may bully you now. They may taunt you, call you ugly names, physically beat you, humiliate you, and turn others against you.

Those around you may make you feel sad, alone, unattractive, and rejected in the present. But they won’t be in your life forever. Bullies eventually drift out of it.

It Only Gets Better:

But rest assured, Your Life won’t always be this way.

Take it from someone who has been there. I had no friends in middle school or high school until I finally transferred to my new high school during my senior year.

Once I left *Oakley High School and began attending *Roseburg High School, that’s when life began. And I took back my power and started rebuilding every part of me that my bullies from the old school had torn down.

Leaving Oakley was the free feeling you get after walking away from a toxic and abusive boyfriend. And the same will happen for you, too.

You won’t linger in that poisonous environment forever. Life gets better.

When you escape, your confidence will blossom.

There will come a day when you will be happy and have so much to be thankful for. You’ll have a family of your own.

You will enjoy your job and feel comfortable in your skin. Also, you will accomplish more than you ever thought possible.

You will grow to love yourself, imperfections and all.

You won’t worry about what others think of you, and you will permit yourself to be you. Moreover, you will have the courage to say no when you don’t want to get involved in or do something that doesn’t feel right to you.

These will be freedoms that you will enjoy and never give up. Not without one hell of a fight!

It Only Gets Better:

Don’t Give Up! There’s Life after Bullying.

I want you to know that the bullying you’re subjected to now will not last. There’s a beautiful life waiting for you once it’s over.

So, whatever you do, don’t give up! Stay your course, and keep fighting.

Hold on to your faith and your dignity with everything you have. Because it may not seem like it now, but the best is yet to come, and the right people will find you.

You will be surrounded by family and friends who love and accept you for who you are, not only for what you can do for them. And you will have friends you never have to explain anything to.

They will love your flaws and quirks, along with your good qualities. You’ll feel so secure with being yourself that you can make fun of yourself and have a good time doing it.

You’ll be relaxed, worry-free, and best of all, safe! You will find your circle of friends, and once you meet them, they will have been worth the wait.

You’re worth fighting and living for. Don’t give up now. Stick around! It only gets better! Much better!

Your bullies only bully you because you have a light that blinds them. Therefore, they are trying like the devil to dim that light. Don’t let them do it.

You may feel dead now. But someday, you will overcome the abuse, and it will breathe life back into you. Don’t give up now. There’s always hope. Keep looking to the future.

Heed these words. You will have life. You will have love. And you will look back on this and be amazed that you not only survived, but you overcame!

The Purpose of this post was to assure you that it only gets better and that there is life after bullying so that you will be inspired to keep pushing forward when times get the toughest. Don’t give up! Choose Life!

Related posts you’ll enjoy:

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

2. Encouraging Words for Bullying: You Can Overcome!

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

Recovery from Bullying: Journey to Healing

‘Want to know about recovery from bullying and what to expect once you leave the toxic environment you were bullied in? Here are all the details!

recovery from bullying

After you finally escape a bullying environment, you must take time to heal. Moreover, the healing may take a while. But! Know that you can do it! You can overcome bullying and move on to a more productive and rewarding life.

In this post, you will learn all about the long recovery from bullying from someone who has been there.

Once you learn all about these encouraging details, you will be much more excited for your future. Moreover, you will look forward to the day you find peace and happiness.

This post is all about recovery from bullying so that you can finally rest and heal. And, for the first time in a long time, you can finally look forward to a brighter tomorrow.

Recovery from Bullying

The healing didn’t happen overnight.

The trial by fire ended during my senior year. I could hardly believe it was over! I was finally transferring to a brand new school, where I could start anew, with a clean slate.

My new school, Roseberg High, felt like a paradise! Everyone there accepted me as I was, and I made so many new friends. For the first time in six years, I felt safe again!

Moreover, I could relax and be myself.

I felt as if my life was finally beginning. And I could finally put the bullying from the old school behind me.

However, this brand new start didn’t come without a few hang-ups. The last several months at Roseburg were the best of all four years of high school.

But I didn’t realize that I was still carrying a lot of leftover baggage from the severe abuse I suffered at the old school.

There were afternoons during my first month at Roseburg when I’d have a long cry after I got home. Being four months pregnant at the time, I mistook the tears for the raging hormones of pregnancy.

Recovery from Bullying:

Mourning the years I could never get back.

However, I realize now that the crying was a sign I hadn’t recovered yet.

Though I loved my new school and all the people there, I regretted not being able to transfer earlier. I was grieving the loss of so many years. And these were years that I could never get back.

My then-husband worked a twelve-hour graveyard shift. Therefore, I spent most nights at home alone. In the afternoons, he would be asleep when I’d come in from school.

So, I had plenty of time to grieve.

Flashbacks.

During those first weeks away from the bullying, I also suffered flashbacks. And they would come automatically and without warning.

I had flashbacks of my old bullies shoving me to the floor, brutally beating me up, and yelling and cursing me out. At night I’d have nightmares.

I would dream that I was swimming in a lake and enjoying the water. Suddenly a terrible feeling would sweep over me and I’d stop and look around.

I would see my classmates from Oakley High and they were also in the water. They surrounded me. Afterwards, one of them would push my head underwater.

I’d fight like hell to come back up for air. However, as soon as I’d get my head above water and gasp for breath, they’d shove me back under again.

Once more, I’d have to hold my breath and fight with my arms flailing in the water. I tried so hard to get away from them.

Recovery from Bullying:

Bad Dreams.

Finally, I couldn’t hold my breath any longer. And I wasn’t strong enough to fight them off. Therefore, I had no other choice but to give up the fight to live.

Just as I inhaled and felt the searing burn of water fill my lungs, I’d wake up with a jolt. I had this same dream almost every night.

Also, I remember having another dream where one of my old bullies hunted me down and shot me. I’d wake up in the middle of the night, so frightened I couldn’t move a muscle.

I’d only lay there, trembling in the darkness.

A range of emotions.

During my first month out, I also dealt with a lot of sadness and anger. Luckily, it didn’t show. Roseburg High was my happy place. And while I was there during the day, I didn’t have those emotions, nor did I have any flashbacks.

The sadness, anger, flashbacks, and dreams only happened when I was home alone or sleeping.  I wanted so badly to forget about Oakley and live in the present.

During that month, I also felt a degree of shame. However, I soon realized that the shame wasn’t mine to bear. But I couldn’t understand what was happening to me.

I would often think to myself,

“What’s wrong with me? I’m out of that hellhole now! I should be happy! And I am. But why do I keep having these episodes of crying and feeling angry any time I’m alone?”

When I felt angry, I wasn’t mad at my former classmates. I was angry at myself for allowing them to tear me down the way that they did.

I felt like a battered wife who’d just left her abusive husband! Recovery from bullying isn’t easy. In fact, it’s tough. And it takes a lot of work!

Recovery from Bullying:

Getting over the trauma of bullying.

I was fortunate, though. It didn’t take long for the raw emotions to subside. The flashbacks, and the nightmares slowly went away too.

Finally, I could begin focusing on making great memories with my Roseburg classmates. During the first month, I had allowed myself to feel and to cry.

I talked to a few of my most trusted family and friends.

Moreover, I realized that I wasn’t wrong to have those emotions. They were signs that something was terribly wrong in my previous environment.

I also began to understand that I wasn’t what was wrong. I’m thankful that I didn’t bury those emotions like so many survivors of bullying do.

Also, I concluded that what I experienced was the release of emotions that had, for a long time, been suppressed.

Releasing suppressed emotions.

They were emotions that I wasn’t allowed to have in the old environment. In fact, I was afraid to show them, even feel them, because I knew they’d see right through me.

Then, they would punish me with more bullying. The only alternative I had was to keep those emotions buried deep.

And although my parents had been well-meaning, there were times that neither of them could handle the intense crying.

Therefore, only after I got out of there did they begin to pour forth.

Recovery from bullying:

A roller coaster ride.

After a month of riding that roller coaster, everything finally subsided. I felt like a new person!

I didn’t get any therapy, although I should have.  Besides, I was young, newly married, and expecting my first child. Therefore, everything was changing so fast I could barely keep up.

So, I worked through it on my own. As I mentioned earlier, recovery takes hard work.

I had the help of a new and nourishing environment, a few trusted people, and new friends. Therefore, I was able to get through the horrible after-effects of bullying and peer abuse.

I began to set goals to learn about computers. Also, I made Honor Roll at my new school. As my grades skyrocketed and I achieved those goals. And my confidence shot through the roof!

Most survivors aren’t as fortunate.

Sadly, most survivors of bullying aren’t as lucky as I was. Many take years to even get through the grief.

Bullying stays with you. For some, the trauma can last a lifetime.

Graduation and after.

Graduation was bittersweet. I was happy to finally graduate high school. However, I was also sad. Why? Because I would miss my classmates and teachers from Roseburg High.

It all ended too soon.

My first five years post-graduation was full of ups and downs. I struggled with bouts of depression and didn’t know why. I was on the roller coaster again and desperately wanted to get off but didn’t know how.

Having babies and being a post-partum new mother only doubled the depression that was already there.

As the years wore on, I lived, and I worked. I was a mother of two small children but only going through the motions and surviving. In fact, I was only existing. It felt as if I was living on autopilot. But then, something amazing happened!

Recovery from Bullying:

The Article that Changed My Life.

In 1995, I came across a magazine article while on my lunch break at work. The article was about a kid severely bullied by his class.

Like me, his bullies had tormented him so horrifically that he thought about suicide. However, he too had eventually transferred to another school.

And his life changed for the better. He, too, had made a complete turnaround. Finally, he got the chance to experience the friends, fun, and excitement that high school was supposed to be.

Reading this article was a turning point for me. In fact, finding it was one of the best things that happened to me!

This article answered so many questions. Moreover, it confirmed that none of the abuse I’d suffered at my classmates’ hands was my fault.

The piece was also validation that there was never anything wrong with me. It only cemented the truth I’d always known deep down inside. That I wasn’t to blame for their abuse!

My classmates were the perpetrators. They had the issues. And they had held me responsible for problems that were theirs, not mine.

With this confirmation came my empowerment!

During those years, many people, including a few well-meaning family members, had often told me that the bullying I suffered was all in my imagination. Also, they’d tell me that it wasn’t as bad as I made it out to be.

Many more had said to me that I brought it all on myself. However, deep down, I knew better. There were times, I may have doubted it, but I held on to the truth.

In my heart, I had known the truth years before I read this piece and held on to it. Maybe this personal knowledge was why I resisted my bullies and fought back, even if it meant getting hurt.

And maybe it was why I suffered so many physical assaults. Nevertheless, I needed confirmation – a second opinion of sorts. And that magazine article was exactly what I needed.

At that moment, everything fit together like a perfect puzzle! I cannot express the relief I felt. It was as if it had lifted an enormous weight off my shoulders. My heart began to soar!

Recovery from Bullying:

Bullying is Abuse.

For the first time, I saw the bullying for what it was. Abuse!

I thirsted for even more knowledge of bullying and the human predator/prey dynamic. From that day forward, I read everything I could get my hands on.

I devoured magazine articles, essays, books, online articles, everything that pertained to bullying and peer abuse.

There were so many unanswered questions.

  • “What was it about me that made me a target?”
  • “How had my bullies been allowed to get away with their brutality?”
  • “What was it about my bullies that made them so charming and good to everyone else?”
  • “What were the ingredients to their charm and allure?”
  • “Where had their intense hate and mean-spiritedness come from? What had precipitated it?”
  • “Had they too been abused, or were they just spoiled, coddled egomaniacs infected with schadenfreude?”

So many questions haunted me and increased my curiosity. Therefore, I continued digging for information, like a police detective eager to solve a case.

Recovery from Bullying:

Tim Field

During the late nineties, I came across Tim Field’s BullyOnline.org and hungrily read every one of his articles. The website was massive, and it took a while to read.

I went through it with a fine-toothed comb. If I had questions, I emailed Tim, and he would always reply in a timely and courteous manner.

Sadly, Mr. Field is no longer with us. He passed away from cancer years ago.

It’s been almost thirty years since I found the article that changed my life. And I cannot tell you how many sources of information I’ve poured through.

Moreover, I can’t measure the truckloads of knowledge I’ve attained. Nor can I tell you how much the knowledge has empowered me.

With knowledge comes empowerment!

Between experience and almost three decades of reading and research, I’ve gained insights that have given me a whole new perspective of bullies and bullying.

That article back in 1995 set me on a path to greater knowledge. Moreover, it gave me a passion for helping other bullying victims through writing and advocacy.

I’ve found what I love to do, and it is so rewarding!

I thank God for placing that article in front of me that day at work. Otherwise, I might still be wandering in the dark and trying to find my way.

That magazine article truly changed my outlook on the bullying I suffered. I no longer see it as something that ruined my life. No.

Recovery from Bullying:

Turn Your Pain into Your Power

I see the bullying as an event that gave me a fiery passion for using my experiences to help those who endure bullying today. It showed me my life’s work. And, through that, it gave me peace and happiness.

Therefore, I do not hate my bullies. And I don’t need to take revenge. Turning abuse around to the benefit of others is how I turn my pain into power!

And that’s the best revenge you can ever take!

If you’re a victim of bullying, know this. What’s happening to you is wrong and it isn’t your fault. You never asked to be brutalized. You do matter, and you are enough!

More importantly, you can turn your pain into your passion. You can also turn your pain into power! And this is how you overcome bullying.

This is what this entire website is about, overcoming bullying.

This post is all about my own recovery from bullying so that you’ll have the encouragement you need to stay strong. Moreover, it’ll give you hope for a brighter future!

Related posts you’ll enjoy:

1. Healing from Bullying: 11 Amazing Recovery Tips

2. Knowing Yourself: Why it’s the First Step in Building Confidence

3. Bullying and Psychological Effects: 10 Emotions Victims Feel

4. Imbalance of Power in Bullying: 3 Sources of Power for Bullies

there's always hope

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

If you’re a victim of bullying, know that there’s always hope and that you can overcome it. Here are several things you need to remember when people bully you.

there's always hope

In this post you will learn that there’s always hope when people bully you. Moreover, you will know that as long as you stay alive, this sad chapter in your life won’t last forever.

Once you learn all these things, you’ll want to fight so that you can look forward to a better future.

The purpose of this post is to assure you that there’s always hope when you’re being bullied. Also, it’s to give you encouragement and let you know that your life won’t always be this way. You can overcome bullying and a wonderful life is waiting for you on the other side of it.

There’s always hope

Things may seem hopeless now. But take heart. You won’t have to deal with bullying forever. Life does get better!

Hope, Your Best Ally Against Bullying

Bullying is a war unlike no other. It’s the fight of your life. It’s a battle in which there’s no clear cut enemy.

Bullying is a situation in which hope is your only ally. Don’t lose it! Because, in losing it, you also lose morale and the strength to keep going.

Hope enables you to look to the future. It gives you strength and the wisdom to know that whatever you endure in the present will eventually pass.

It encourages resilience and gives you the endurance to go on. Hope gives you confidence. And with confidence comes the determination to reach the finish line and win the race.

Hope opens doors. It’s that still, small voice that whispers, “Keep going. You’ve got this!” Holding onto hope fuels success in helping you to attain your goals and desires. It’s the will to persevere during the toughest of times and go after your dreams in life.

Never lose hope. Because if you lose it, there’s nothing left.

There’s Always Hope:

Please Hold On! The Best is Yet to Come!

People may bully you now but they won’t always. Although the bullying is intense- even unbearable, the struggle is only temporary. And I do not say this lightly.

Some of you may be thinking… “But she doesn’t understand! Nobody understands!”

“She’s isn’t suffering, and she doesn’t understand the hell I go through every day at work or at school!”

However, I do. Why? Because, once upon a time, I was stuck in the same spot that you are in today.

I know what it is like to want to smile, laugh, sing, and dance only for others beat it out of you. Also, I understand the pain of wanting to believe in yourself and see your own value.

You try to feel good about yourself, only for others to repeatedly and seemingly deliberately drum into your head that you are nothing.

I Feel Your Pain because I Experienced it.

To want to speak and use your voice, only for people to silence you! You want to just live in peace but others won’t let you.

 They only threaten physical harm, further degradation and humiliation. School staff threatens suspension or expulsion. Your supervisor may threaten you with the loss of your job and livelihood.

Moreover,  others may sabotage your opportunities! I know all too well the desire to move forward and go places, only for bullies to hold you back.

To want to escape the torment, only to be stuck in a toxic environment with toxic people, against your will! I know the horror of knowing that others curse your very existence and bombard you with death threats.

I know what it feels like to have others force you to sacrifice your own needs and wants for their own satisfaction! And to see others getting gratification and entertainment- all at your expense!

I know what it’s like to be marginalized, shut out, and devalued as a person. Additionally, I know what it’s like to even be slapped, kicked, beaten, scorned, disregarded, walked on!

There’s Always Hope:

“Are you dead yet?”

It is a feeling of being run over by a truck, whose driver then stops, throws it into reverse, and backs over you again. The driver then shifts back into drive and mows over you- yet again. He then stops the truck, opens the door, sticks his head out, and asks, “Are you dead yet?”

Bullies don’t only want to hurt you, they want to destroy you.

And any signs of life- any whimper or movement only encourages the driver to close the door, shift into reverse again, and back over you again. He just keeps running and backing over you until you finally succumb to the trauma and die.

Yes. This is akin to what targets of bullying endure. Bullies want to destroy you. And it seems that they won’t relent until they are sure that they have done just that.

But know this. You will not have to deal with these people forever, and Karma does repay – in spades! If you keep believing in yourself, you will become successful and happy. And when you finally get there, your bullies won’t even matter to you.

The Resilience of The Target of Bullying

Understand that we, as humans, know what we need to nourish and flourish. Therefore, if we’re not getting what we need and want in our current environment, we’ll get it somewhere else.

Targets of bullying are like flowers that lean toward the sunlight to grow. So, if you’re a target of bullying, you will find someplace where you’re accepted. You will find friends. You’ll find love, and you’ll find happiness.

My bullies weren’t able to keep me bullied and broken. After I moved to a new school, their power ended.

I was no longer within their reach. As badly as they wanted to, they couldn’t keep me under their bootheel forever. I moved on to a place with people who accepted me as I was.

Understand that bullies can only keep you down for so long. They can’t do it forever. There’s always somewhere people will accept you – just for being your awesome self. Always remember that. There’s always a better tomorrow!

There’s Always Hope:

If You’re a Target of Bullying, Here’s a Message for You

Many bullied kids (and adults) are dying by suicide. This should hit home with many people because the suicide rate among bullied kids and teens is astronomical!

It certainly hits home with me because I attempted suicide at age fourteen after being bullied for several years. But I survived, and things got much better once I left that toxic learning environment I was bullied in.

Therefore, I want you to know these truths.

1. You can overcome bullying and move on to a better life.

Know that You CAN Overcome Bullying!

You are beautiful! Smart! Awesome! And one day, you will cross paths with people who will see your worth and love you.

Moreover, they will love you unconditionally – just for being YOU! You will find a teacher, school, supervisor, or employer who will see the good you bring to the table.  A

These people will view you as the asset you truly are! Don’t give up. You are worth fighting for!

2. The situation you’re in is only one chapter of your life, not the entire book.

Whether you’re being bullied in school or the workplace, know that this is only one chapter. It’s a trial. Therefore, things won’t always be this way.

You’ll move through it and better days will come. I promise!

3. There’s Always Hope:

There are better ways to handle bullying other than taking your own life.

Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Moreover, if you take your own life, your bullies automatically win!

But as long as you have breath in you, chances are that your life will get better. Moreover, these people won’t always be in your life.

Therefore, don’t let them win. Stay strong and push forward. Know that life eventually gets better!

4. You must love yourself regardless of what others think.

Loving yourself in an environment that hates you is an act of rebellion. Therefore, be a rebel. Continue to love yourself, no matter what.

Why? Because it will pay huge dividends in the end.

5. You are just as good as anyone else, regardless of what people tell you.

All you have to do is believe it with every fiber of your being. Never allow your bullies to make you feel inferior.

Hold onto your self-belief!

6. There’s Always Hope:

You can do anything you set your mind to if you believe in yourself.

Self-belief is powerful! Therefore, if you have a goal, work on it until you achieve it. Don’t give up!

7. You Can educate yourself about bullies.

This means you must learn their mindsets, their tactics, and the damage they can do. Therefore, read and study everything you can about bullying.

The more you know about bullies and how they think and operate, the better off you’ll be. Why? Because knowledge is power! Therefore, the more you learn about bullies, the better you’ll be able to protect yourself against them.

8. Recognize the beginning symptoms of low self-esteem and find ways to fight it.

The key to protecting your self-esteem is to know when it’s about to take a nosedive. That’s the time to double down on your self-belief.

Moreover, it’s also the time for self-care. Therefore, show yourself compassion and do the things that make you feel good. It’s the only way you’re keep your self-esteem healthy.

9. Know that if bullies take your confidence, they can alter the course of your life.

Your life is yours. Therefore, when people bully you, you must fight like the devil to keep your confidence intact.

Why? Because it could be the difference between a life that’s rewarding or a life that’s difficult.

10. There’s Always Hope:

You have more power than you know.

Power isn’t only power you have. It’s also power you think you have. Never allow bullies to fool you into thinking you’re powerless.

Keep standing up to bullies no matter what. That’s how you keep your power.

11. Confidence is the key to a better and more rewarding life.

When bullies are attacking you at every turn, it’s easy to lose confidence. Moreover, it’s easy to lose that positive attitude you once had.

If you aren’t careful, you’ll begin to doubt yourself and give up on your goals.

Therefore, if you’re a target of bullying, I want to encourage you to hold your head high and keep the faith. Hold onto your hope. Stay true to your own heart and follow your dreams. Know that it won’t last forever, and one day soon, things are going to change for the better! I guarantee it!

There’s always hope! the purpose of this post is to give you the encouragement you need to stay in the fight and continue looking forward to a better future.

Related posts you’ll enjoy:

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

2. How to Build Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem

3. Encouraging Words for Bullying: You Can Overcome!

How to Overcome Self Doubt: 7 Easy Mind Hacks to Achieve Success

‘Want to know how to overcome self doubt? Here are the time-tested mind hacks you need to know about.

how to overcome self doubt

When it seems that bullies attack you from every direction, it doesn’t take long for you to begin doubting yourself. As someone who’s been there and triumphed, I’m giving you the proven steps you need to know to overcome self doubt.

In this post, you will learn all the mental tricks you need to go from doubting yourself to believing in yourself.

Once you learn all these clever mind exercises, you will slowly develop the self-belief you need to stand up to bullying and gaslighting. Moreover, you will feel more confident than you thought possible.

This post shows you how to overcome self doubt using the psychological techniques below so that you can grow more confident and live a happier and more productive life.

How to Overcome Self Doubt

Before we get into the mind hacks, let’s discuss the relationship between being bullied and doubting yourself and how it can negatively alter your life.

Many victims of bullying are filled with self-doubt. However, it isn’t only bullying victims that suffer this malady.

Self-doubt ranks right up there with fear. It’s a close second to it as it kills your dreams and causes you to live in mediocrity. Therefore, fear and self-doubt are the catalysts to life-failure. So, please don’t let this happen to you.

Many have been bullied so long that doubting themselves has become like second nature. Understand that abuse has a way of resetting your default mode from confident to diffident.

And once that default has been changed, it’s much more difficult to change it back. Therefore, this is one of the reasons why bullying is so devastating for a target.

To put it simpler, once you’re bullied, it changes you. Either it turns you into a scared, helpless victim, an angry and bitter monster, or an empty shell.

You can overcome it and still, you won’t be the person you once were.  Moreover, even if you do the inner work, get to know yourself again, win back your confidence, and manager to heal, you’re still not the same.

You’re stronger, yes. You’re a winner, yes. But I’ll say again, you’re still never the same as you were before you were bullied. Therefore, there will be times when you’ll feel self-doubt creep back in and have to fight it.

How to overcome self doubt: It’s an ongoing battle.

In other words, you don’t just conquer bullying, get confident again and say, “Whew! I won! I’m glad I don’t have to worry about self-doubt or bullying again!”

Why? Because you will at some point. There will be times when that unwelcome and uninvited guest, Mr. or Ms. Doubt will quietly try to slither their way back. Situations in life will trigger it and you will have to fight it.

It’s an ongoing battle. You might experience lulls, where you feel so self-assured that you don’t believe you could ever doubt yourself again. Moreover, these feel-good periods may last days, weeks, months, even years

However, circumstances will arise and unsavory people will come into your life to bring that old devil back again. And, once again, you will have to fight with everything you have to kick that pesky, uninvited guest out.

Self-doubt comes with many symptoms. They include lack of confidence in yourself, your appearance, your abilities, and your potential.

Additionally, lack of self-belief  breeds lack of self-determination or, Learned Helplessness. It also comes with anger, sadness, depression, feelings of jealousy, and later, regret.

Giving into self-doubt is dangerous because it has a huge negative affect on your life. In fact, it can absolutely destroy your future. So, how does self-doubt effect your life? It does so in several ways:

1. It zaps your motivation and inspiration.

When you think you can do nothing right or can’t be very effective, you won’t want to try at anything. Why? Because you’ll be so fearful of failing.

Without motivation nor inspiration, you’ll either never do anything at all or you’ll do just enough to get by and that’s it. Instead of living, you’ll only end up existing.

Instead of being successful at life, you’ll only squeeze through it by the skin of your teeth. In other words, you’ll end up in toxic relationships that don’t fulfill you. Also, you’ll bust your tail in dead-in job after dead-end job.

Consequently, you’ll have nothing to show for it in the end.

2. If you don’t learn how to overcome self doubt, It Will cause you to miss opportunities.

When you constantly doubt yourself, you’ll be blind to your chance opportunities and let them pass you by. This will only lead to a mountain of regret later.

There’s nothing that feels worse than knowing you had an good opportunity and missed it because you didn’t see it.

3. It gives you a defeatist attitude.

Self-doubt can morph into the acceptance of failure. Moreover, it can cause you to give up too soon and forfeit success.

Understand that challenges are the most difficult right before your breakthrough and this is when most people give up. In other words, most throw in the towel when success is just around the corner.

Also, once you get into the habit of giving up, you’ll see no point in trying at anything anymore. Therefore, you will only see more failure and defeat.

Finally, you’ll end up with the attitude that you can never reach success. You’ll feel that nothing meaningful or positive can ever come your way.

Moreover, you’ll feel as if God has cursed you, is punishing you and that His will is for you to suffer without ceasing.

This is the absolute wrong attitude to have.

4. Not knowing how to overcome self doubt only stunts your growth, and keeps you feeling “stuck.”

If you don’t believe in yourself, you can’t grow as a person. You’ll only  feel like a victim of circumstance. As a result, you’ll feel helpless to change any of the things you don’t like about your life.

In other words, you will feel that no matter how hard you try, you can never accomplish anything.

5. It causes you to procrastinate.

Because you think you’re going to fail anyway, you dread even trying. Therefore, you put off everything until tomorrow. And, day by day, you keep putting off the things you know you need to do.

Consequently, you let it all pile up until the problem becomes so big it overwhelms you.

So, how do you stop doubting yourself? And how do you continue to work bravely on your goals no matter how long it takes to achieve them?

Overcoming self doubt starts in the mind.

Here are the 7 mind hacks to help you stop doubting yourself.

1. Remember how far you’ve come.

In other words, congratulate yourself for making it this far. Doing this will encourage you to go the entire distance and finish the race.

2. Remember the battles you’ve fought and won.

This includes the small wins that are barely noticeable. Moreover, keep in mind that little victories lead to big victories!

3. Remember the fears you’ve faced and overcome.

For example, if you were afraid of water when you were five and you overcome it by taking swimming lessons. Go back to that memory anytime you feel scared of doing something you know you must do.

Remember the quote, “Courage is not the absence of fear, it’s acting in spite of fear.”

4. Remember all the bullies and mean people you’ve overcome.

In other words, remind yourself that you’re still standing even after so many people tried to bring you down. That is a victory in and of itself!

5. How to overcome self doubt: count your blessings.

This means counting the good things that have ever happened to you in your lifetime. You’ll be surprised when you find that they are so many that you can’t count them all.

6. Remember all the things you’ve accomplished- even the tiniest of assignments and projects you’ve completed.

Whether you finish the Fall cleaning of your house, got a good grade, or learned to ride a motorcycle, it’s a win and you must see it as one. Therefore, count your victories, no matter how insignificant they may seem. A win is a win.

7. lastly, believe that if anyone else can do it, you can too.

Seeing someone else succeed can be a huge motivator. Therefore, instead of being envious, let the other person’s victory give you encouragement to keep trying.

Understand that we all come to roadblocks and hit brick walls. Moreover, we all have our down times and, sadly, sometimes those bumps in the road can cause us to doubt ourselves from time to time.

However, don’t you dare quit. If you need to rest, than rest. Even the Energizer Bunny has to recharge his batteries at some point.

The trick is to get up, dust yourself off, and keep pushing on. The difference between those who succeed and those who fail is whether they give in to self-doubt and give up or push it away and keep going.

In conclusion

No matter what bullies have told you nor how many times you’ve faced adversity, you can overcome self-doubt. It may take a while and you make need to work hard and fight many battles but you can overcome it.

Know that you have the power to change the way you think. Many people who grew up in extreme poverty or abusive homes have gone on to become doctors, lawyers, famous writers and inventors. Therefore, know that the same power is within you too.

You can change your life.

This post was all about learning how to overcome self doubt so that you can change your life for the better.

Related posts you’ll enjoy:

1. Knowing Yourself: Why it’s the First Step in Building Confidence

2. Bullying is Abuse: 9 Ways Bully and Abuse are The Same

3. How to Overcome Victim Mentality: 5 Proven Mind Hacks

4. How to Stop Caring What People Think: 9 Powerful Steps

5. How to Overcome Low Self-Esteem: 7 Insanely Easy Ways

how to defend yourself from bullies

How to Defend Yourself from Bullies: 5 Powerful Strategies

‘Want to do how to defend yourself from bullies so that you can be safe?

how to defend yourself from bullies

Bullying is perverse and can be negatively life-altering. If you’re anything like I was, you’re probably having difficulty deciding how to properly stand up for yourself. As someone who’s been there, I’m giving you the steps to defend yourself against bullies.

You’re going to learn the exact method of defending yourself against bullies and bullying.

After you learn all these powerful strategies, you will be extra prepared for the next bullying incident and be able to better handle yourself in bullying situations.

This post is all about how to defend yourself from bullies so that you can ensure your own safety and take back control of your life.

How to Defend Yourself from Bullies

1. think like a bully (just don’t act like one)

This is your first step.

Most people who become targets of bullying are genuinely good hearted and would never dream of hurting another human being. On the other hand, bullies are consistently thinking up newer and more sophisticated ways to inflict harm on others.

Their hunger for power is such that they have left a long line of victims in their wake and are always on the lookout for new targets.

The reason most good people become targets of bullying is that bullies are notorious for taking kindness for weakness. Therefore, to protect yourself from becoming the next target requires that you adopt the bully mindset.

You must think as bullies do but not act as they do.

I realize this can be difficult because the mind of a bully isn’t a pleasant place to be. It can be downright ugly!

Moreover, to think as a bully takes a certain degree of identifying with them. However, you must think as they do in order to better predict what bullies will do next.

If you can figure out what their next move will be, you can stay a few steps ahead of these creeps and protect yourself.

Therefore, this won’t be easy. The mind of a bully can be a real cesspool. However, sometimes you must wade through a ton of crap for safety’s sake.

2. Respond in kind

There’s nothing wrong with responding in kind when people are mistreating you. This doesn’t mean tit for tat. However, it does mean getting ugly when you must.

When you respond in kind, you act with power by meeting your bullies where they are. In other words, you speak to the bullies in the only language they understand.

You must realize that when a bully is in your face, you can’t afford to be nice about it. In fact, there is no being polite.

You can never handle a bully “nicely” because they will only see that as weakness and use it to their advantage. Moreover, there is no being quiet about it because bullies will take your silence as being afraid.

Again, you must speak to the bully in the only language they understand. And what they don’t understand is nice and polite.

For example, the bully is in your personal space and they’re cursing you out. That’s when you put your hand out like a traffic cop. Then, you tell them in no uncertain terms to get the hell out of your face.

This shows that you command the dignity and respect that’s due to the next person. Also, it shows that you have the guts to stand your ground when some creep violates your boundaries.

As a society, we’ve been conditioned by politicians, the media, corporations, educators, and even certain members of our families that responding in kind only makes us as bad as the bullies.

bullies only understand strength and power

There’s no law that says that you must accept abuse from anyone. Yet, we’re very subtly being told that we should take it, and with a smile, and a yes sir/ma’am, then ask for seconds. In today’s world, society tries to dictate that we should agree to abuse.

And we’re still being conditioned to do so. We’re being told to “ignore” people’s atrocious behavior, and in some cases, even submit to it.

However, I want you to understand that the only thing bullies understand is strength and power and anyone they deem as weak is fair game.

Therefore, if you don’t respond in kind to bad behavior, bullies will get the message that there are no consequences for their abuse.  Moreover, they will get the impression that they can walk on you anytime they feel like it.

Then, there will be no stopping them from escalating the bullying and no limit to what they’ll try next.

You must set boundaries, and how you set boundaries is by imposing consequences on anyone who violates those boundaries. But how do you impose consequences?

By responding in kind to bullies when they cross the line.

Therefore, never be afraid to respond in kind and never feel guilty for it. It’s normal, expected, and it’s how you defend yourself and treat yourself well.

Remember that the only rights you have are those you fight for.

3. How to defend yourself from bullies: don’t worry about what other people think

People will tell you, “You shouldn’t have said that to so-and-so because you only stoop to their (the bullies’) level.”

However, it’s funny how they never said a word to the bully, who had you backed in a corner and was unloading on you. Now, all of a sudden, you are the mean one for telling the bullies exactly what they are.

Therefore, realize that when you’re forced to get just as nasty, there will be people who try to tell you the same thing.

Instead of worrying about their reaction, always come back with, “Funny, you never said a word when they were doing the same to me, so you have nothing to say about my behavior. Now, get lost!” And say it with conviction and without guilt.

“It’s not ladylike,” they say? Well, it’s not ladylike for the bully either. It goes both ways.

Tell them how you feel and what you think of them because you can’t be nice when you’re dealing with people who wish to harm you. You have to get funky with it! You must put your bitch-face on when things get hot. When some schmuck is in your face, nice and polite goes out the window.

And once they find out that you aren’t as weak as they thought, they just might back off and think twice before confronting you again.

however, before you can do this, you must first not worry what others think.

When you stop concerning yourself with what others think or say, standing up for yourself comes so much easier. Remember, these people aren’t dealing with bullying. You are. Therefore, they have no place putting their noses in your business.

What they think and how they feel about it doesn’t matter. So, stop worrying about the feelings of those who aren’t worth your time.

4. respond to physical bullying by hitting back.

Yeah, you read that right. If a bully hits you first, you are well within your rights to hit them back… twice as hard as they hit you. How to defend yourself from bullies involves responding to physical attacks.

Understand this right now. When a bully physically attacks you, you have a God-given, primal, animal right to defend yourself from being harmed. I state this with full conviction!

Therefore, if a bully hits you first, haul off and knock his block off! And when you do, don’t just give him a love pat. Deck the creep with the strength of your entire body- hit so hard that the bully has difficulty getting back up.

Then unleash a hail of hard licks so that he doesn’t get up. Because once the bully gets up, he will charge you!

Yeah. I know it isn’t the “politically correct” thing to do. But when someone is harming you, all that jazz about political correctness and being the bigger person goes out the window, and the gloves are off.

School stuff may suspend you from school, and managers may fire you from work. You may even go to jail for a night or two. However, people are much more vicious with physical attacks nowadays.

Furthermore, if you just let someone smack you around, they’ll only intensify the beatings until they hurt you bad enough to send you to the hospital or worse! And you’d much rather them suspend you, fire you, or take you to jail than to spend a month in the hospital or end up six feet under.

Let’s face it. Sometimes, bullies can have you cornered and fisticuffs is the only option you have.

5. How to defend yourself from bullies: take self-defense Classes

Although not always affordable, martial arts classes are a godsend for victims of bullying. Not only do you learn how to defend yourself, you also learn respect and discipline.

Moreover, these classes will give you the confidence you never knew you could have and you will become more physically fit.

Whether you’re dealing with one or two bullies, or a whole pack of them, you should always defend yourself from them. This is how you do it!

this post was all about how to defend yourself from bullies to help you ensure your safety and take back control of your life

Related posts you’ll enjoy:

1. Signs of Toxic People: 5 Tell-Tale Indicators

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

3. Setting Boundaries: 3 Powerful Practices to Hold Your Ground

4. Phrases to Shut Down a Gaslighter: 9 Powerful Statements to Use

5. Gaslighting Phrases: 7 Most Common Statements to Be Aware of