Bullying in schools is believed to be a normal part of school life, however, when people begin to have this mentality, they forget that bullying is physically and psychologically harmful to both the bully and the victim. Children who are bullied are not to blame for attacks against them. In some cases, a child who is bullied sometimes ends up bullying others. These children often respond to being bullied by feeling anxious and aggressive. Without knowing how to handle these feelings, they target other children who they think will not fight back. Someone who is bullied often let other people be in control and do not stand up for themselves. Most people decide not to tell their parents about the abuse which not only leads up to depression but also social anxiety, decrease in self-esteem, and alcohol abuse and suicide thoughts.
Another effect of bullying is that it can change the victim’s personality. It can cause people who are normally confident and happy to become self-conscious, shy, and unsure. Additionally, victims of bullying may also become sad or depressed. Their confidence might completely disappear, keeping them from trying new things or trusting people. Once a person has been bullied, they may hesitate to participate in situations where he or she might be ridiculed, such as in public speaking or in sports. A bullying victim might even begin to possess previously absent anxious behavior. This is not over a verbal abuse but also cyber bullying can lead to this.
In the 6 grade I experienced bullying. Mike was an 8th grader that picked on underclassmen. He was much bigger than us. One day he started calling me names, calling me skinny, ugly and stupid. He sometimes put me in a locker and locked me in it. Throwing me in a trash can and rolling me around a gym. He also made fun of my eyes, my eyebrows my clothes, the fact that my legs weren’t as muscular as the other boys and my nose. He called me ugly. He told me “You would never make the team because I was too little.” He called me “anorexic”.