I went from Happy…to depressed and hurting…

My worst bully came around when I was 9 years old. She was very mean, very self absorbed and cocky. She didn’t like me at all because of my physical appearance, and the way I dressed. She would constantly slap me, kick me, call me names, call me ugly, and just be very very mean. She hated me from day one, and not for a good reason. However one incident she took way too far. I was in 6th grade, and I was eating lunch in the bathroom with my two friends, she came in, used the bathroom, saw me and my friends then yanked on my ponytail and kicked me in the head. I didn’t defend myself, then she pushed me, and I got up, and shoved her back. We started to fight, and well, I lost. She finally left when I smacked my head on the tile wall. My ‘FRIENDS’ didn’t even do anything to stop it. That’s when I feel like my old happy self was just…gone. I used to be a very happy, fun loving, goofy, chill kid, then…after 8 years of not letting bullying get to me, it got to me. I became very isolated, very cold, and scared. I also struggled academically. I passed by the skin of my teeth, but next year….the bullying got so bad that I couldn’t handle it anymore, and I FINALLY spoke up, but…the school didn’t do anything. Then, when highschool came around…I finally was free from that one particular bully, but…several more came along, and that’s when the fights starting coming, the bullying about what I ate, and overall anything about me. Then…in the middle of Sophomore year, the corona hit…and honestly that saved my life. I was seriously in a bad spot and I finally got away from those bullies. Now, I am a Junior, but…I still suffer daily from Depression, PTSD, Anxiety, Self Esteem issues, confidence issues, troubles accepting myself, and fear in general. I believe I will recover, but it’s going to take a lot of time. Do not let bullying get you down like it did to me. It’s very hard, but if I can do it, one who’s socially weak, then you can do it to!