Our Stories...About Myself

I am writing as one who suffered constantly at the hands of school bullies from the age of 8 until 16. The type of bullying I endured caused me to suffer panic attacks, which in turn led to a fear of feeling sick, and travelling far from home. I was bullied while having these panic attacks and was unable to tell anyone, even my parents, for fear of the bullies finding out and then the bullying and panic attacks would get worse.

The bullying and the resulting phobia have deprived me of a social life for a very long time. I’ve longed so much to have friends, go on holiday, realise ambitions close to my heart and experience sharing with others all the joys life has to offer. The bullying I suffered has forced me to live the lifestyle of a loner. Not telling anyone when I was being bullied has therefore not only made my school life a total misery from ages 8 to 16 it has affected me ever since, depriving me of achieving so much and frustrating everything I live for. Add to this, of course, the distress it gave my parents.

Through all this experience I would say that you must tell the most reliable person in confidence, somebody who could have a positive effect on the situation. If only I had the courage to tell things would be so different now.

I never again want children to experience and suffer what I and others went through and are still going through at school and to feel the distress of having their lives so devastated through being bullied.

Barry (47)