Talk about yourself
I had BP disorder as a child, but was considered only a "troubled" child at the time. I had many issues, which weren't diagnosed until later: Bipolar Disorder, PTSD, Panic Disorder. I was an introverted until about age 8 and behaved "oddly." I think bullies singled me out because I was just different than the mainstream body.
How Did Other Children Mistreat You?
Children teased me mercilessly and would beat me up regularly, up until the age of eight. I even had one bully that would follow me home, push me down, and steal my shoes, almost every day of that year.
Lessons Learned
- In the long term, being a victim of bullies affected me greatly. At about the age of eight, I went and beat up all the bullies and became quite extroverted. I was so into fighting all of a sudden, that I became a bully myself. It took me a long time to grow out of bullying others in response to both being bullied in school and being an abused child. I finally did, though, and lived with guilt for a long time for what I put other kids through.
Do you think bipolar disorder helped make you a victim?
Yes. I also think that it added to my later becoming a victimizer.
Did being bullied damage your self-esteem?
In an odd way for my reaction to it in the long run. I responded to it, as mentioned, by becoming a bully myself. My self-esteem was shot for several reasons when I was young. Becoming a bully, too, is an expression of low self-esteem.
Do you still have "victim" characteristics as an adult?
Absolutely not.
