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Can bullying make you sick?
My question is: can verbal bullying make you physically ill? I was in science and a girl was mocking me to half the class and they were all laughing. I kept turning to try and say something but my teacher was there (she's strict but has a good heart) kept telling me not to (well, she said my name in a warning tone, and I knew what she meant.) After a while another girl on her side (we were in the middle of a class debate) and was imitating me and laughing with her and like calling me makes. At this point I was crying and (badly) attempting to hide it. Eventually I went to the bathrooms and had a cry. My (not close) friend cane in and asked if I was ok then said 'Woah, your burning up' I had a temperature and my stomach really hurt. I went home because I felt so sick. Is it possible it was because of the bullying? Because before science I was better than ever. All answers appreciated. :)
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I don't think it was entirely the bullying. You probably just got really worked up. All that crying can raise your temperature, and when your sad you may get a stomach ach.
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Rahzie gave you good answers.
While it is good to develop a tougher hide and not be so sensitive and crumble under occasional teasing, bullying may be another story. I am taking the position that this is more of a case of constant teasing rather than bullying.
An occasional tease is fine, you need to learn how to not take it so personally. Some people are more fun to tease than others because they are easier to produce emotions in. If you indeed did not react to teasing, they would soon quit because it was no longer fun. If it was more than just teasing, but bullying, then you do not have to react for them to continue doing so.
I remember when I was young and got teased and how it hurt me and I was embarassed or uncomfortable, and hated it. Once I got older and decided I was tired of being so shy and unsure of myself and decided to work on my low self esteem, then it no longer bothered me how people might laugh and tease me.
In fact, I rather craved it. For someone to totally ignore my existance would be worse...
I would not matter at all to them. For someone to want to take the time out of their day to tease me and say things that might seem like put downs means that they are interested in me and subconsciously want to be able to interact with me and become acquaintants, or good friends. As I grew older, I learned to understand the difference of the intent behind the words said, some of it is learning the tone of the voice or the body language. More often than not, the words said are not bullying in nature, just friendly teasing though to a person with no tolerance and low self esteem it will feel very much like bullying, I know, I experienced it.
How about the next time someone pokes fun at you, you try to take it as a compliment, if someone was complimenting you obviously, for example:
"I really like your new haircut, looks good on you," you would beam back a smile at the very least or say thanks or yeah, I knew it would, thats why I chose this cut on purpose.
If you write me some examples of actual things they said or did in mimicking you, I could give you my perspective on a different way to view each one and a different response you could take with each one. Eventually you will find this actually fun instead of terrifying and saddening. Write me, I'd be glad to help.
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Extreme negative emotions can make a person physically ill - grief, terror, shame or stress - can make anyone have a physical reaction as well - headaches, upset stomach, even pain and just general malaise.
There are also these things called panic attacks, and if your temperature rose, you probably had a panic attack, even just a milder one.
So yes, it's totally possible, even really likely, that your physical reaction was due to the emotional stress of being bullied.
There is no reason to be too worried, but this is a sign you need some help. A therapist or counsellor can give you some better tools to manage your feelings, so they don't manifest as physical illness. Although panic attacks are normal, and most people will experience them at some point, they can become dangerous and really destructive in your life if they get out of control.
You didn't do anything wrong - but to be happy and healthy in this world, you'll need to find some better tools to manage when other people are little monsters. Talk to a pro.
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