Being the target of bullying is devastating and terrible for the victim. However, many adults struggle to comprehend the extent of a child’s suffering until they, themselves, have experienced bullying. They are unaware of the severe and perhaps long-lasting effects that bullying may have.
The “empathy gap” is another name for this lack of comprehension.
One of the greatest ways to strengthen anti-bullying measures is to work to narrow the empathy gap.
Unfortunately, until people genuinely understand how terrible and horrific bullying can be, actions to fight in support of victims won’t be successful. Here is a summary of how bullying affects victims and how they might get better.
Impact of Bullying on Children’s Health
Bullying in young children is a grave public health issue that raises the likelihood of adverse health, social, and academic consequences in young children and adolescents. Both parties associated with bullying, the victims, and bullies themselves, experience these adverse effects, which are now shown to last farther into adulthood.
Cyberbullying is a recent phenomenon along with the more typical physical, explicit vocal, and indirect bullying. Physical appearance is the most common cause of youth bullying, and children viewed as “different” are more likely to be targeted.
Although significant geographical diversity exists in the incidence and kind of bullying encountered worldwide, about one out of five kids has been a target of bullying in their lives. Three main categories may be used to group the effects of childhood bullying: those on education, those on health, and those on adult life.
Most cyberbullying victims also experience conventional bullying; thus, there aren’t many new victims added due to cyberattacks. Bully victims often suffer the most gravely from the adverse psychological effects of childhood bullying.
Sustainable Development Goals must be accomplished to avoid bullying, and whole-school collaborative learning initiatives have the best track record. Even though there are physical and online expert services, neither primary nor secondary care has established treatment or referral channels for healthcare workers coping with children’s bullying.
Impact of Bullying
Mental Health
Bullying has a negative effect on how kids and teenagers view themselves and can leave them with lifelong scars. It may also have highly damaging effects on other aspects of their lives. It can potentially significantly influence mental health in the short and long term. Studies have found that if someone was bullied as a kid or adolescent, they might have a double risk of later requiring mental health care.
When your child has a tough time at school, they might think they can’t go to school, which can lead to many problems. It is essential to contact the school as soon as possible to arrange for help.
No matter where the bullying happens at school, at home, or online-it may harm mental health.
Self-esteem
Bullying may always leave you feeling anxious and uncomfortable, making you feel continually uneasy. Young individuals may experience rejection, loneliness, resentment, and withdrawal. They could consider how to disappear so the bully won’t see them. Due to the burden, they can also cut out on possibilities for connections or social interactions.
Physical Well-Being
The physical effects of bullying on kids and teenagers are real and prevalent. Their health may be impacted by the fact that they may not eat much or at all, struggle to sleep, and always feel agitated. If you are concerned, you should talk to your doctor right away so that a support system can be set up to assist the person.
Myths Related to Bullying
Some of these statements concerning bullying are heard from time to time. Despite their good intentions, people are often mistaken.
“You must learn to confront bullies head-on.”
Children who report bullying to you are typically miserable as they cannot handle the issue. The bullying would not have happened if they had handled it. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness; rather, it is a great decision. Please, be there for help!
“If you are being bullied, you must defend yourself and seek revenge.”
Bullying frequently worsens when retaliation occurs, raising the possibility of life-threatening injury. Since the bully is frequently more powerful than the target, violently responding might result in significant injury. The issue can get out of hand if your child gets into a fight with other kids, and they risk getting in trouble for their involvement.
“Bullying is only a phase that children experience at school. We all have survived it, and so can you.”
Bullying is unacceptable because it’s not normal. Everybody engaged may have destructive consequences for a very long time.
“Punishment is the most appropriate approach to handle a bully in class.”
Students who bully others struggle with personal issues and are generally dissatisfied with their circumstances. These children must constantly acknowledge the repercussions of their conduct. At the same time, they also need help to improve their attitude and develop more productive means to get what’s missing in their lives.
Fostering Resilience in Your Children
One of the best things we can do for our kids is to help them develop their resiliency and self-assurance. We are all aware of how difficult life may be and how crucial it is to learn how to handle these difficulties. Resilience is the capacity to cope with stress, difficulties, trauma, or hardship in life and to recover from it.
Resilient kids and teenagers are more self-assured, inquisitive, and capable of adjusting to their surroundings.
We have a brilliant example for you here.
Despite having a hearing disability, experiencing frequent bullying from friends and family, having low financial resources, and having no understanding of conversations, John Turner managed to achieve success.
After losing his mother and his self-esteem, John Turner had nothing to lose. He decided to stand up for himself, find a reason to live, and strive to become a better version of himself.
People chose to belittle, bully, despise, and pity him, but John Turner had other plans. He overcame every obstacle, transcended the limitations imposed by his circumstances, and showed that he was deserving of more than the world could provide.
Although, he managed to survive on his own, he always yearned for a physical support system.
