What happens when you get bullied as a child?

If you were bullied as a child, you probably remember feeling helpless, unsafe, insecure, and alone. In fact, studies have shown that the bullying you experienced in childhood may have been so traumatic that you are still feeling the effects even today. 1 

Does childhood bullying affect adulthood?

Still considered a rite of passage by some, research is now attempting to understand why victims of childhood bullying are at risk of poorer outcomes in adulthood, not only for psychological health, but also physical health, cognitive functioning and quality of life.

How many people have no experience with bullying?

But the largest portion of study participants formed a fourth category: Those who claimed to have had no experience at all with bullying (789 participants). Bullies were mostly boys, but victims could be either girls or boys.

Can bullying lead to a criminal record?

According to Utterly Global, an organization dedicated to anti bullying, children who were bullies in grades six to nine are 60 percent more likely to have a criminal conviction by the age of 24. A bully is also five times more likely than a victim to have a serious criminal record in adulthood.

What to do if you have been bullied at school?

Seek Trauma Support Sometimes healing from a childhood trauma like bullying requires outside help and support. Talk to your family doctor and get recommendations for a counselor that specializes in healing from childhood traumas. 5  A counselor will help you process and make sense of what happened to you.

How do victims of bullying deal with the consequences of bullying?

Many times, victims of bullying isolate themselves and try to deal with the consequences of bullying on their own. 4  If the bullying you experienced as a child keeps rearing its ugly head, consider talking with a counselor about your past. It also helps to talk with friends and family or find a support group in your area.

Should I write a letter to the bully who bully me?

The bullying you experienced does not define who you are. Instead, rediscover who you are and close the door on the past. Some victims of bullying have found that writing a letter (that you never mail) to the bullies helps them find closure on what happened.