What happened to me was nowhere near as severe, nasty, or long lasting as what some people go through, and I'm so glad that (for now at least), it appears to be over.
In reality, it doesn't matter about the so called 'severity' of it or how long it lasts. It can be six weeks, six months, or six years - the impact is the same.
I won't go into details here, but I was bullied because I had the guts to stick with something I believe in wholeheartedly.
Sometimes you find yourself in a situation you would have never thought you would be in. You either do what the bullies tell you and walk away, or you stay and keep fighting.
I chose to stay, even though the bullies hated me for it. Why should I give up something I've worked hard to build up, just because certain people did not (and probably still do not) approve of my choices.
I was told repeatedly that I was not the person that they thought I was, and by some I was called names. I was made to feel awful about myself on a daily basis, and it's not just the things they said to me, it's the things that were said and done behind my back.
Lies, assumptions, and judgements are made about you - and you have no control over what is done with them. For me, the worst one (although not to my face, as it were) was that I was 'faking' and 'exaggerating' my disability! Notice how the bullies didn't have the guts to tell ME that . I found out through a friend, who made the (correct) decision to tell me what had been said.
I am aware that the friend spared me every detail - and I still don't know the extent of it. I don't want to either.
I am also aware that by writing about this, I run the risk of it starting all over again - but I had to do it. Like I said, what happened to me was mild compared to the situations of others, but I still felt scared to turn on the computer in case there was another message waiting for me, and I found I didn't know who to trust.
Was the person I was talking to online really on my side, or were they one of the bullies, just pretending to be my friend? Would they turn on me, and use what I said against me later? Were they going to spread more lies? Sometimes they did, and I had trusted the wrong person. That just made it worse.
For the brief period that it went on, I doubted myself even more than usual. I was withdrawn, I was angry and I couldn't fight back.
I knew who 'my' bullies were, and I knew why they did it - or at least, I think I know why they did it. For many people cyberbullying is faceless. It is almost entirely anonymous, and that just adds to the fear and intimidation.
According to the NSPCC website 38% of young people have been affected by cyberbullying. Their information comes from government research and data as of March 2013.
http://www.nspcc.org.uk/
With the tragic suicides of teenagers like Hannah Smith bringing cyberbullying back into the spotlight this year, it is important that no one feels they have to suffer in silence, whether you are a teenager or a full grown adult.
In a world where more and more time is being spent online, we need to be aware that it can happen to anyone.
By Helen Sims
If you have been a victim of cyber bullying you can find more information and help at the following links:
Government Site:
http://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/how-to-report/index.html
Childline:
http://www.childline.org.uk/Explore/Bullying/Pages/online-bullying.aspx
Image: Google
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