Experiencing bullying is highly stressful and traumatic and can have long-lasting impacts on children, regardless of their age or situation.
Unfortunately, the effects of bullying can follow children throughout their lives, even after the harassment has stopped and you believe they have moved on. This post will discuss the long-term impacts of bullying on children and what families can do to notice the signs.
How Bullying Can Impact Children Long-Term
The long-term impacts of bullying on children are severe and can be detrimental to their development, self-confidence, and general well-being. This section will explore the significant effects children can sustain from bullying.
Emotional Damage
When enduring constant harassment from their peers, it’s not uncommon for children to lose their self-worth and confidence. Being bullied and worn down can wear on anyone, not just a child. Children may start to believe they aren’t worthy, capable, or strong because that’s what the person bullying them is instilling in them.
Physical Illness
Many children who experience bullying at school often report feeling ill. Stomach aches and general illness are the body’s way of coping with conflict. If your child regularly has stomach aches and wants to miss school, it’s likely a sign of bullying.
Mental Health Conditions
From social anxiety to personality disorders, bullying can leave a lasting mark on a child’s mental health. Bullying can cause social anxiety, where a child may feel afraid to be in group settings for fear of embarrassing themselves. It can also lead to more drastic mental health conditions, including personality disorders, self-harm, and suicidal behaviors.
Rage & Violence
Developing rage and anger from the effects of bullying is common in children. Feeling helpless and unsafe as a child can result in violence as they grow up because it is the only way to gain control of situations.
How Bullies Have Such a Powerful Impact On Children
Children seek acceptance and validation from their peers, both in-person and online. When they don’t experience acceptance and belonging, problems with self-esteem and confidence are typically affected.
In a world where so many children use social media to connect and communicate with their peers, cyber bullying is more prevalent than ever. It occurs on social media, via text messages, online forums, gaming apps, and email.
A child’s brain changes and develops quickly, and undoing the harm from bullying takes time. Words can have a lasting impact on a child’s self-esteem, which can lead to various issues down the line.
Final Thoughts on Bullying
Raising children is challenging enough, but helping your child navigate a situation with a bully can be overwhelming.
Remember that you are your child’s safe space, and encourage them to communicate openly with you about what they’re going through.
Providing a nurturing environment where they feel loved, even when they’re having issues at school or with friends, is the best thing you can do for them.
The Happy Life System is a program designed for families that want to create harmonious homes, raise kind children, and feel connected and confident as parents, partners, and individuals. Learn more here.
