The Lasting Effects of Childhood Bullying

Growing up, I wasn’t spared from bullying. I was called fat, dark, and told I had a lisp. These comments hurt, but they also pushed me to change my appearance.

People constantly criticized how I looked, so when I had the chance, I decided to improve my appearance. Some might think that once I looked better, everything would be fine, but they were wrong.

The Lasting Effects of Childhood Bullying

Constant Fear of Gaining Weight

Since I was bullied about my weight, I became obsessed with maintaining or losing it. I tried everything from fruit diets and fasting to crash diets and even diet pills, which caused me severe stomach issues.

Working out wasn’t my strong suit, so when I struggled to lose weight, I turned to wearing loose or dark-toned clothing to hide my body. I also learned how to pose in photos to look thinner, which helped boost my confidence.

Fear of People Noticing My Lisp

Another impact of bullying was my avoidance of any career involving public speaking. While I can lead meetings and do interviews, becoming a professional speaker or reporter is out of the question. The fear of being mocked for my lisp has held me back.

In college, I struggled with presentations because my classmates teased me. Despite trying various methods to correct my lisp, nothing worked. I’ve had to endure it and try to be confident, but when someone notices it, I become too self-conscious to speak. This has made me hesitant to talk to strangers.

Unfortunately, bullying isn’t confined to school; some people even face it at work. The effects of bullying can last a lifetime. While people can make changes to themselves, like I did, the emotional scars remain. I constantly strive to prevent being bullied again.

I hope people become more mindful of their words. Bullying should never be condoned.