Have you been BULLIED? Share your story.

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Not even close LOL

I'm still not a Doogie Howser. I'm too hyper to succeed in med school.

I did well when I went to college--but something like med school would put me over the edge. For one, I have trouble distinguishing individual bones--whether it's the right femur or the left femur.

So do tenured doctors. I have X-rays that were mislabeled (right from left). I pointed this out to my physicians, and they just laughed. Doctors!

I was extensively bullied in my youth, starting around 6th grade until I graduated from high school. My family moved and instantly I became the school target. School officials did not want to interfere with the issue as I was just the new kid to them. The specifics I will leave out due to the graphic nature of it, but it got very physical quickly and it was not one on one. I got used as a "practice target" by a group of martial arts students, athletes and pseudo-gang members. Weapons were used frequently (by both them and me). There were four instances where they actually intended to kill me and make it look like an "accident" or suicide. I was almost blinded by ammonia cleaner that they threw into my eyes in a sneak attack after school was out. All of this bullying taught me that I have a very dark side when pushed towards destructive means, something that I am not proud of. This lead to a negative self-image, something I still have to deal with on a daily basis. In a way, they forced me to go deeper into science to find ways of self defense, which I did use on occasion when needed. During this time, I just wanted it to stop at any cost, even if it meant my life. I was robbed of part of my youth by them. It took me many, many years to finally convert the extreme hatred I had for them into a constructive force that I can use now.

I don't want to go into the horrific bullying I endured but the three biggest bullies in Junior High were all very short (5' or less) and that made them all the more dangerous. to make it worse, they were (and are) EXPERT smooth talkers and can convince anyone of anything. You can imagine how they put an the innocent face about how the 6'4" kid was the instigator and it was always enough to make the teachers doubt who the actual victim was!

Again, few people accept at face value a 6'4" boy is the one being bullied the most, especially since I was NOT a hardcore geek and enjoyed sports.

Ugh - so many times.

My goodness, bullying was so part of my life as a kid. I was messed about physically, sexually and psychologically by nearly half of my peers to varying degrees. Sure respect the people who did not bully. Those who accepted and liked me were such a welcomed relief when I was 16. I learned to blend in to avoid bullying as a young adult, but bullying has returned to my life as an older adult in the workplace this past decade. Why are sports guys always the people who seem to enjoy bullying me the most? Perhaps I am wrong, but it certainly feels that way. Is there any data on bullying perpetrated by sportspersons in Western societies?

I am very sorry that this has happened to you. This website deals with all kinds of bullies, including sports bullies:

http://www.bullyonline.org/cases/case97.htm

Hope that link works. Welcome to WP. Many people here will relate to your past experience as a victim of bullying (unfortunately). The one positive may be that it makes us more aware of suffering and more compassionate toward victims who are so often silenced and voiceless.

It's pretty well known, anecdotally, that "jocks" enjoy bullying people

But let me tell you something: these "jocks" frequently are not successful after getting out of high school. It's almost as if they know that you are fated to be successful; whereas they are not. Maybe that's why they bullied you.

Thank you both for the words of wisdom. I agree it has made me more compassionate for those who are discriminated against for being different. I also agree that these bullies often do not amount to much in life. I was reading about the fellow who tried to bring new anti-bullying legislation through in the United Kingdom to help deal specifically with autism. He was troubled that the current legislation appeared more focused on hate crimes and could not adequately deal with bullying situations arising for other people. Not sure where his campaign is now despite having Rick Gervais on his side. Kevin Healey is his name and there is an entry for him and his campaign in Wikipedia.

I have noticed that, in my state at least, former jocks (always men, and relatively notable) become car and insurance salesmen. Oh, wait. Same thing; from touchdowns to television commercials.

I don't think that is true in general. Sure, there are jocks who bullied people but there are plenty of other jocks who never bullied anyone. I've known plenty of jocks who were not bullies.

A related question to the thread: how have you recovered from being bullied, or ameliorated the impact it had on you. What helped?

I have not fully recovered from the terror that I endured in middle and high school (bullying from both students and the SpED teachers). Not only did my anxiety actually worsen, but now I swear I'm suffering from full-on paranoia and post traumatic stress disorder.

(Also, for those of you wondering of my absence, my internet was off and I was busy with other things)

http://www.bullyonline.org/successunlim ... sdmain.htm

I haven't read this book, by David Kinchin, though it looks promising.

How? Well, a few friends who convinced me to study Taekwondo and improve my self awareness, to speak up and speak out for myself, and to realize that there were others who liked me as I was (am) and I could have friends. Those three things made the bullies in my life disappear, though I have had bullies as adult peers. But, their influence over me was negligible. If I had known then that I had AS, I would probably have accepted it as a fateful confirmation that I wasn't worthy to succeed. So, I believe that they practically saved me.

Yes, all though grade school, primary through high, I was bullied in many forms, verbal, physical, and sexual. I only recovered from it because around age 17 I started listening to music and began to form a concept of myself and that I deserved more than what I got. I grew a very thick spine. Otherwise I'd be dead right now or worse. I still greatly suffer from depression and anxiety though, some things were so deeply ingrained into my being at such a young age I doubt I'll ever fully recover although I'll still fight like hell to do so.