Study: Effects Of Childhood Bullying Can Last Well Into Adulthood

The effects of bullying can last a lifetime, a comprehensive new study in the American Journal of Psychiatry has concluded. CBS 2's Jessica Schneider reports.

Twitter: @cbsnewyork

[rjc]

I can attest to this. I was bullied often in middle and high school -- physical intimidation, name calling, humiliation, laughed at, you name it. You can't just switch this stuff off from your mind once the bullying stops and you graduate high school and enter adult life. The emotional / mental scars stick with you for a lifetime and impact damn near every aspect of your adulthood. 30-plus years later, and I feel like I'm still paying a heavy toll for what I went through. Granted, I was also dealing with an abusive father who routinely beat the crap out of me and called me every vile name in the book. That definitely exacerbates the problem. All I went through in my childhood came together to form the perfect storm that is the dysfunctional adult I am today. This is what my adult life is about -- trying to find ways to heal that damaged inner child. I can only hope by the grace of God that I am successful in that endeavor before it's too late, and then maybe, life won't be a total disappointment. We shall see.

[xenajade]

Oh yeah of course, you lose all self esteem as a kid if you are bullied. It's very hard to build that positive self image later on, if not actually impossible.

[Alan]

I was bullied from the age of 11 to 18. I'm 43 and have never done anything other than labouring as a job. I can't handle dealing with the public or formal work environments; Both terrify me.

[frearygu]

I’ve been bullied almost my whole life, both by my peers and weird ass adults and teachers. I was never liked, and I still don’t know why. I was raised only by my mom, I don’t really associate or know any of my family, including my siblings. I was so soft, talkative, friendly. Now I’m 18, I got friends that love me, but I will never be the same. The bullying and feeling like I’m unloved and unliked by everyone made me feel no sympathy or empathy for anybody. It made me cold. Sometimes, it makes me feel upset how much it changed me. But at least people respect me more now that I dont let them fuck with me. I’ve truly had enough. Kids are the most cold, brutal kinds of individuals, but the parents and adults that be enabling them be even worse. It is true, society really fucks up the good people.

[pegasuspony]

When I have memorize of be being bullied I feel angry and that I wish I could get back at the kid who bullied me.

[albertkeller]

From 7 to 19 I was severely bullied, ridiculed by the whole school ('zombie ´, ´weirdo ´ among other names) and beaten up in the corridors. Picked on because of less appealing appearance and poverty (cheap clothes, no money for hairdresser). At 40+ still heavy damages: poor social skills, distrust, bouts of anger, extreme introversion, depression episodes. Sometimes I would like to confront my bullies, but it might make things worse. Just passing by my old
school trigger nightmares. Have to live like this for what remains of my days

[andrewflores]

I am suffering from this. In my mind i was afraid to fight back because I didn’t want to get in trouble. Had I know now what I known then I would be in prison now.

[michellecameron]

I’m 58, bullied from kindergarten to high school. I’m a friendly, happy person but ‘friend’ relationships never last long with me. I’m pretty sure I sabotage them because I don’t trust.

[jonathanexercise]

I was bullied and my parents focused more on how I reacted; often, they told me the people were just joking; when I took a joke, they would fuss at me and tell me how stupid I was being; so many mixed messages; now, I deal with these scars and expect others to adhere

[skyhawk]

Back in middle school and high school, I was also a recipient of bullying. I still have PTSD episodes every once in a while. When we had these horrible childhood experiences, we ended up not sticking up for ourselves primarily because we didn't know our own self worth. We might've lacked confidence or self-respect as a result of this; the bullying, of course, exacerbated this issue.

For those of you who read this, I'm gonna tell you this right now: YOU ARE AWESOME! If an asshole insults or torments you, they're actually giving you a complement. Their behavior towards you vindicates that you, as an individual, are the antithesis of the kind of person they are. There's no greater complement than that, is there?

[xenajade]

When I was 5 I was chased down after school by 2 classmates, attacked from behind, beaten in the dirt then they threw my school bag over a barbed wire fence into a property protected by two barking dogs. I had to climb the 6ft fence to get the school bag, then get home. Then I was punished by my mum for being late and being dirty. I never told her what happened. It happened every day.

[rol]

Well it's true. I'm 28. Still suffering. Alone forever I guess. In my eyes. First people impression. Everyone here to hurt me. No one can be trusted.

[Someones_account_haha]

I dont think we needed studies to prove that lmao

[lilsept]

I used to get bullied, picked on for being that pushover, being terrorized for being that easy type. I believe what would have melancholia more intense about being bullied in the past is regretting not standing up for yourself by allowing your bully to get away with terrorizing you and putting up with being manipulated. The regretting feeling of being passive to your bully, being too nice really sucks, it's like your anger about those moments catches up to you as time goes on. But I always try my best to think of God as preventing me from becoming angry, and not allowing no one to define me. It's not easy but have to keep strong. It should be videos on regretting not standing up to your bully for people that are being hard on themselves for failing to stand up to their bullies.

[Tom-svcm]

Went through it from 4th through 8th grade. I was called every name in the book from retard to dipshit, had gum stuck on my seat, was made fun of for my name (they called me Thomas the tank engine, one kid even wrote it on the chalkboard once) had basketballs thrown at my head in gym and was shoved down the stairs and slapped across the face by two other kids once. 34 years old now and yes, it's stuck with me. The damage is done.

[Isabel-oupl]

What stunned me is that my bullies still gave me dirty looks even after I changed my entire face with surgery plus makeup and better clothes .. so never do anything for bullies they will always find a flaw

[CJB-]

I was bullied so much partly cos our controlling father made us different and stand out. But wow I was literally being forced to eat apple cores picked off the playground while sometimes 100's of kids watched and cheered it on. I can also remember kids saying hurtful stuff and a teacher smiling along with it.
I am so much a loner and all my life had mental health problems and the most acute social phobia. Hardly a day goes by without my mind going back to those days, over 40 years a go.

[MrRrrr]

I graduated school around eight years ago and my 10th grade (15 yrs age)around ten years ago I do still have lots of anxiety due to humiliation and bullying I have endured and being made fun of and being treated like a doormat be the punching bag being a laughing stock I still don't have any friends I am still alone I don't have any social life and 25 years old I will still struggling to have a friend the friendly contact with anyone has

[brandonhethcox]

The hurtful effects will still last until I have my revenge.

[FndlzDaKlwn]

35 years ago i had about 3 years in my teens that i was bullied, hunted in a way by a well know kid whom everyone was afraid of. I was walking in the mall and wasvhit hard in my back upper v part by him i turned and saw him walking away from me back to his griup of feienda qho were laughing. Samevperson was in a car and jumped me walking down the street. Almost disconnected my jaw. Did a police report nothing happened. Was attacked about 5 times in span of about 3 years. Called me at my house, do t know how, and said"be pitside your house in 10 mins or ill break all the windows. Did not happen. Bit scared me. Ive never done anything to this person. And even tried tobask him why he is doing this to me, never said anything. I was 14 and im 50 now. i cant help but still think of it, him, wanted some type of justice that was never dispensed on him. And latley saw his name on someone i knows friend list on facebook. Bad bad nightmare for me. Sry for long txt. Ty.