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How Childhood Emotional Bullying Shapes Adulthood
The emotional wounds that bullying creates are often invisible, but they are the hardest to heal.
This story is about my client, who seemed to have a successful career, a carefree life, a warm smile, and a seemingly perfect life. Despite having all of it, she had trouble making deep connections with others and always second-guessed herself.
“I just do not trust people easily,” she continuously repeated in the session, unsure why.
In therapy, Claire (name changed for privacy) started to open up about her feelings. Her teenage years were difficult and was gone through emotional bullying. She told me how being left out, cruel teasing, and the constant manipulation and mind games from peers around her affected her. It wasn’t something she could forget easily when school ended. This trauma became a part of her personality even after moving on to the next stage of her life.
Friends used to make hurtful remarks about her intelligence, hobbies, and looks, portraying them as jokes. Peers used to make her feel left out of plans and social events, making her feel unworthy or unwanted, which eventually led to isolation.
When she confronted her peers, they used to say things like “We were kidding” or “You…
