Hey.
I am 24 now, but I was bullied horribly in school, and even now I get paranoid thoughts when people in my University class start giggling - even though I know they are not bullying me now and often they are my friends. It is still a reaction. We don't want to be hurt again, do we.
My mum didn't understand. She never does. If I told her about being bullied, her response was always "What did you do to make them do that." and when I said nothing, she would say "People don't bully people for no reason." She still believes I brought it on myself - sometimes I believe that too.
I used to try and stay where teachers were to protect myself. My head teacher was great, and one time when a bully pushed me to the edge during PE, and I retaliated, me an the bully got detention for fighting. The headteacher saw me hidden away crying and asked what was wrong. Eventually, I told her. She ripped up the detention slip and had words with the bully. Of course the bully bullied me more, and I was too afraid to tell anyone, but the head teacher did try and help me.
I think she knew more was going on, because she was always supportive and she would be in the canteen most lunch times, but some of the other teachers turned a blind eye to it all, and the bullies were careful not to get caught.
Sorry, this is a long one.
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