Bullying

[Grace-99]

Hi,

I have been getting bullied since I was 8 I'm now 16 and it is really hard to cope with.

These two girls have been bullying me since I was 8 I've moved to 5 different schools and they still manage to find which school I go to. I have moved to 5 schools in 1 and a half years.

I have no friends it's very hard I've tried to stand up for myself but ended up bullied more 

If anyone has advice please reply back 

[Earth Girl]

I'm sorry your bullies seem to be so obsessed with you that they keep finding out where you go to school each time you move and continue to be so mean for so long!

Have you tried talking to the school counselor and/or a trusted teacher? When I was in college, I told the counselor that this boy was bullying me (he made a rumor that I was a lesbian just because I didn't like him and his friends back in the same way they use to like me and they all basically tortured me everyday because of it as well as getting as many people as they could to gang up on me). It took me a long time to tell anyone about it (like a teacher) because I was really shy and afraid of what they might do and I was also embarrassed that I was getting bullied because I thought it made me seem weak, but those boys who were bullying me were the ones who are weak. After I told the counselor about it, I felt a lot better and started wondering why I was so afraid to do it because it turned out to be a lot easier than I thought it was going to be, it was just my anxiety that made it seem like it would be hard.

The boy ended up getting expelled and had to go to a new school and I don't think he bullies me anymore (probably too scared to now after how cross the counselor probably got with him). His friends still bully me though so I kind of wish I told on them as well. But what I'm trying to say is that it's usually best to tell an adult in authority at school who you trust about it because otherwise the bullying can get even worse or at least it's less likely to end (especially since they have been doing this to you since you were 8 and keep tracking down the new school you've gone to). I would also recommend letting a teacher, principle and/or counselor at the school your bullies go to know so they can check them and put them in their place.

When it comes to making friends, that can be hard as well. First, it might be good to try to figure out why you might be struggling with it. Are you shy? Do you lack social experience? Did your bullies affect how you feel about yourself and/or how you interact with people? Are you worried people won't like you so you don't talk much? I guess since you've had to move school a lot of times this year, that would also make it harder to make friends. Are there any groups at the school you are currently going to that you would like to join? It could be an out of school curricular activity or something in school like a sport group or art if they have something like that. I've heard that can make it easier to make friends because you'll find people you have things in common with and people find it exciting when they find out you like something they also really like and it makes them want to talk to you about it which can lead to talking about lots of other things as well. 

I think the most important thing to do though would be tell an adult at school about it if you haven't already. It might be good to tell more than one even.