50 People Share The Shocking Fate Of Their Former Bullies

Bullying has deeply negative effects on everyone involved. Not just the victims, but the bullies and bystanders, too. Their physical and mental health suffers, alongside their academic performance and emotional well-being. These problems can persist into adulthood.

According to Stop Bullying, children who are bullied are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, sadness, and loneliness. They might lose interest in activities they used to enjoy and experience changes in their sleep and eating patterns.

Bullying also leads to worse academic achievements and a higher likelihood of missing, skipping, or dropping out of school.

School bullies also face many negative effects stemming from their behavior. They are more likely to grow up doing risky behaviors, such as misusing alcohol and controlled substances.

They’re also more likely to drop out of school, vandalize property, get into fights, have criminal convictions, and have traffic citations. Moreover, bullies run the risk of being more violent toward their partners and kids as adults, Stop Bullying explains.

Meanwhile, bystanders who witness bullying are more likely to misuse tobacco, alcohol, and other substances. They also have an increased risk of missing or skipping school and developing mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety.

As per Health Direct, some of the most common signs that your child might be being bullied include the following:

1. Being unusually secretive and quiet
2. Not sleeping properly
3. Being oversensitive
4. Angry outbursts
5. Physical injuries
6. Headaches and stomachaches
7. Becoming isolated and withdrawn
8. Losing interest in regular activities
9. Receiving more messages on social media than usual
10. Damaged belongings
11. Missing belongings
12. Wetting the bed again

Dealing with bullies is an incredibly complex question. Verywell Mind urges victims of bullying to reach out to authority figures (your teacher, colleague, boss, parent, friend, etc.) and tell them about the situation.

“These figures can help intervene and advocate for you or the person being bullied. If you don’t get the help you need from your first attempt, try again with someone else.”

Meanwhile, you have to be direct and hold the bully accountable for their actions. Be very specific about their problematic actions. Set healthy boundaries, explain what’s unacceptable, and give them an opportunity to change their behavior.

If your bullies don’t stop, it can help if you get a so-called safety buddy. In short, stick with people you trust so they can increase your safety and deter the bullies.

Verywell Mind suggests that instead of being a bystander, you should aim to be an ‘upstander.’ “This is someone who boldly speaks up to stop the bullying in its tracks. Simple ways to intervene are to question the bully’s behavior out loud, change the topic, or recruit an authority figure.”

Another tool in your arsenal is not reacting to your bullies’ attempts to provoke you. That way, they lose their sense of control. In the meantime, minimize the contact you have with your bullies and practice empowering body language to be perceived as confident and intimidating. This helps ward off some bullies.

Meanwhile, if you’re threatened and perceive a risk to your safety or that of your friends, immediately contact law enforcement.

Were you ever bullied at school, Pandas? What happened to your bullies after you all grew up? What advice would you give anyone who’s being bullied now or whose own kids are being bullied in class?

It’s a very sensitive topic, but if you feel like sharing your thoughts, feel free to do so in the comments.