Bullying remains a pervasive issue, not only among children but also among adults, leaving lasting emotional scars and impacting mental health. From playground taunts to workplace harassment, the effects of bullying can be profound and long-lasting.
$200.00 off
As one woman to another, I am gifting you $200.00 off when you purchase 4 sessions with me.
Bullying: Its Impact
One in four American children faces some form of bullying on a persistent basis. Bullying can take many forms. Some involve being attacked by physical force. Other forms of bullying are not physical but, in some ways, even more harmful: verbal abuse, isolation, and rumor spreading are among these. Studies of school-age children over the years have discovered that bullying can have devastating effects on children. Bullying can be common in any area of life – at school, at work, in families, even among “friends”.
Children are victimized by others who exert an imbalance of power to harm or distress them.
No other time are we so impressionable as when we are children learning about the world and our place in it. And if childhood experiences tell us that we are ‘not good enough’ or ‘unlovable,’ that ‘no one wants to be your friend,’ or that ‘no one likes you,’ then it’s clear how we can learn to place little value on ourselves.
Being Bullied as an Adult
Bullying is not confined to the schoolyard; it extends its reach into workplaces, online platforms, and various social settings. In children, bullying can lead to profound psychological and emotional distress, affecting academic performance, self-esteem, and social integration. Victims often experience feelings of isolation, fear, and depression, which may persist into adulthood if left unaddressed.
Many of my clients who have low self-esteem or low confidence were victims of bullying at school, by their family members, or, you guessed right, by their peers as an adult. So, how can hypnotherapy help if your child (or you) are the victim of bullying?
Similarly, adults subjected to bullying encounter similar challenges, albeit within different contexts. Workplace bullying, for instance, can create toxic environments, compromising productivity and employee well-being. The effects ripple beyond individual suffering, impacting organizational culture and overall morale. Moreover, cyberbullying has emerged as a prevalent issue in the digital age, with adults facing harassment and intimidation through online channels.
Often, people I see in my office come to me with symptoms of depression, low self-esteem, and confidence issues. They tell me that they experienced some form of bullying when they were young. Sometimes, they can’t even bring themselves to tell me what the bullies said or did to them. Yet they still feel some shame and pain even thinking about it. Even though it happened in a period of their lives over 20, 30, or even 40 years ago, they may re-experience the emotional sting of that time as if it were happening today.
Mental Effects of Bullying
Children who are bullied are more prone to develop mental disorders such as anxiety and depression and have low self-esteem. The damage to these children’s sense of self-worth can impede their progress later on in life. For example, a child may grow up to be an adult who is highly introverted because he automatically always expects to be attacked.
Physical Effects of bullying
Aside from the bruises and cuts that come from being physically assaulted, kids who are bullied often suffer from stress-related illnesses such as stomachaches and headaches, bedwetting, or out-of-the-ordinary screaming – or plainly shut down. In addition, their immune systems may be weaker, causing an increase in common childhood illnesses.
Poor Academic Performance
Children who are bullied often experience a lower GPA and do less well on standardized tests. This is partially due to the fact that many bullied kids miss school to avoid their tormentors and, in part because they view school and school-related activities as a source of emotional pain. 15% of all school absences are directly the result of children fearing bullies.
The consequences of being a victim of bullying include developing a seemingly irrational fear of school and an increased risk of truancy or dropping out. Victims of bullying are far more likely to bring weapons to school to protect themselves. Victims, in general, reveal an overall average to below-average rate of adult criminal behavior but remain at higher risk for suicide over the long term.
Other Signs of Bullying
- Missing or damaged items or clothes
- Unexplained cuts or bruises
- Sudden headaches or stomach aches
- Sleep problems
- Sudden changes in attitudes toward school
- Sudden violent reactions to others
- A sudden newfound interest in violence, weapons, or self-defense
- Seclusion into their own world – gaming and videos
- New bullying behavior around younger friends, siblings, or pets
Hypnotherapy Can Help
Hypnotherapy can help increase your child’s confidence, feel stronger, and have a voice to report the bullying or even say something to the person who is bullying them. It is much easier when they feel more confident about who they are – learning to stand up for themselves. To know and believe “I Matter”.
The Role of Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy offers a holistic approach to addressing the trauma and negative beliefs associated with bullying. Through guided relaxation and focused attention, hypnotherapy helps individuals access their subconscious mind, where deep-seated thoughts and emotions reside. Therapists utilize techniques such as suggestion, visualization, and cognitive reframing to empower clients, enhance self-esteem, and promote resilience.
Healing and Empowerment
By reprogramming negative thought patterns and fostering inner strength, hypnotherapy enables bullying victims to reclaim their sense of agency and self-worth. It provides a safe space for exploring emotions, processing traumatic experiences, and developing effective coping mechanisms. Moreover, hypnotherapy empowers individuals to overcome limiting beliefs, embrace their unique qualities, and cultivate healthier relationships.
You may feel helpless to do anything for your child to assist him or her with getting past bullying at school. The worst thing you can do, however, is nothing. It is important that your child knows that you are on his or her side.
Hypnotherapy to Heal
Hypnotherapy gives your child the opportunity to process and eliminate negative emotions in a safe environment. In addition, I can help your child boost his or her self-esteem. If the bullying is just a bad memory that keeps impacting his or her ability to make new friends or have better grades, I can help your child let go of what happened and help their mind anticipate having healthy relationships with others.
If bullying is a part of a client’s past, agreeing to work on it together to help them release themselves from the negative impact that bullying still has on their lives can be powerful. Therapy through hypnosis or guided visualization can also help reduce the fear and anxiety connected to the cause. Most times, clients are more anxious before they even step into the arena (school or work) all because they believe it will happen again – so the mind and the body go into stress and anxiousness before the actual act. Simply put, reducing the impact it has on your child (you) while we work on breaking down patterns and building confidence!
Finally, as an adult, bullying may be in the past, but memories of it still affect your life today. Perhaps this may shed light on if you have low confidence, get nervous giving your opinion or find it difficult to make friends or trust people. Hypnotherapy can help you deal with the past, increase your confidence, and Live Purposefully.
