Bullying is emotional for the victim in particular. The range of emotions a victim can feel is vast, but there are a few that stick out a bit more than the others.
Fear.
Imagine waking up in the morning knowing you will be facing one of your worst fears. It’s like someone who is afraid of heights knowing they are going to be standing on top of a tall building that day. For people who are bullied every day, they are waking up knowing they are going to be encountering their bully (or bullies). They wonder, What will this person do or say to me today that will make me feel awful?
Fear is not a fun feeling to have. When we are afraid, we feel threatened. We feel unsafe. As a result, our mind and body are in constant alert, and it is exhausting. Nobody wants to feel that way ever, let alone on a daily basis, in a place where they should feel secure such as a classroom or school bus.
The strongest of us are able to face or overcome our fears, but it is not always possible or easy. The best thing to do is get some help. Have a support system of family, friends, or teachers who will be there for you. They should be able to help stop the behavior that is causing you to feel afraid. This will help ease your fears because they can help stop the source of your fears. In general, you should feel much safer with kind, helpful people around you who care for your well-being.
Low self-confidence.
Both physical and emotional bullying are meant to intimidate and demean another person. It can make that person feel weak and inferior, especially if the harassment is continuous. If another person tries to assert power over another in such a way, the potential impact on self-esteem is understandable.
Remember that strength and power are subjective. Things like physical strength, popularity or financial status are not metrics for who is “better” than another. Always remember that you are incredible and extraordinary for who you are, and no other person should make you feel like you are not.
Hopelessness.
Sometimes victims feel like there is nothing they can do to stop the bullying. Even if this isn’t true, they may be afraid of the repercussions, like angering the bully more or bringing too much attention on themselves. They don’t want to make a “big deal” out of it. The trouble is, these concerns may stop them from doing something to stop the behavior, like telling a parent or guardian, a teacher or the principal.
It may be difficult to do. You might be afraid. You might be worried about the “consequences”. But as long as the bully thinks he can get away with it, he/she is not likely to stop. Try to realize that as long as the harassment continues, you will keep feeling all of the other things in this list.
Anger.
Perhaps the most understandable feeling out of everything is anger. When a victim is being bullied, it is natural for them to feel at least a little bit of anger.
The fact that someone is intentionally trying to cause you pain, whether physical or emotional, is a legitimate reason to feel angry. The trick is to control the anger instead of letting it control you. Remember that any words or actions used against you are only a reflection of the person delivering them.
Humiliation.
Embarrassment is quite an unpleasant thing to feel. The feeling of shame can really weigh you down and hang over your head like a storm cloud.
But you have nothing to be embarrassed about. Be proud of who you are and practice habits of happiness and self-confidence. Do not worry about how others perceive you and you will relieve a great deal of stress. It’s very liberating when you can just be who you are and take pride in it.
Sadness.
Depression, along with humiliation, are the emotions that tend to lead to suicide in bullying situations. The constant fear, embarrassment, and belittling can wear a person down until they feel trapped in despair. Victims of suicide feel that they will never be free of such awful feelings, which makes it all the more tragic because they can be free of them. With supportive and caring people at their side and a strong will to prevail, anyone can come out of even the deepest depression.
So, the answer to the question in the title is… It certainly doesn’t feel good to be bullied. But there is always hope, especially if you have strong will, courage, emotional strength, and a positive support system to help you through it.