I've been bullied for a long time, and am glad that that's in the past now. I've never been physically harmed, I have no scars or hospital visits or even bruises.

I've been affected mentally though. Turns out that being told you're ugly or weird or stupid 15 times a day really takes a toll on your mental health. How are you supposed to be a normal kid if no one will even talk to you? How are you supposed to learn to socialize? How are you supposed to have a positive self-image if you get told you're shit at every turn? How are you supposed to focus on learning if people are constantly trying to get your attention just to say mean things? How are you supposed to play if everyone just runs away from you? Sure the adults tell you you're smart and beautiful and worth having around, but how believable is that when they don't lift a finger to stop the name calling? How are you supposed to lead a normal life if you're carrying all that baggage and there's no one who will help?

I've linked the "To this day project" video in the comments of HN often enough when the topic of bullying comes up. For me seeing that video was a real turning point. It was the point where I stopped believing all the things that mean little shits said about me years ago. I still cry when I listen to it every single time. So I'll link it again, in the hopes that it'll help someone else too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltun92DfnPY

"I’m not the only kid

who grew up this way

surrounded by people who used to say

that rhyme about sticks and stones

as if broken bones

hurt more than the names we got called

and we got called them all"

-- Shane Koyczan