Posted by Angielala on February 5, 2004, at 11:27:02
In reply to Social anxiety and bullying, posted by fogmama on February 3, 2004, at 17:10:57
Oh man... it brings up memories! Catholic Grade School- I was the outsider, bad teeth (pre-braces) thick glasses (pre-contacts) too skinny, so scrawny... and a tomboy to top it all off. I was constantly bullied by this boy we'll call Vinny. Always bullied, and always told, "Stop talking to him and stay away from him and his friends" we'll he had four cousins in the class, and they were all popular and had cliques- which I didn't fit into, because when I was 12, I could care less about makeup and dances, I just didn't care. It finally came to an end when Vinny literally fought me. He outweighed me easily by 70lbs. He beat me up in the classroom while everyone watched and clapped. I didn't tell anyone. It wasn't until my mom caught me taking off a shirt and say bruises that I had to tell. We went to the "Sister" principal. I was told I didn't fit in and that I should leave the school. She called me a troublemaker. I was the shyest, quietest girl, and years later I found that "Vinny" had a crush on me, and since he knew I dislike him so much, he picked that fight.
I think back now and KNOW that that whole mess really did a number on my social skills. I was so worried about being bullied. My dad bullied me on things like politics, my mom on my fashion sense (when I was in high school- I WAS Courtney Love- just imagine that)... seemed like I was always getting bullied.
I never connected the two until now- but being bullied constantly definitely has conenction to SA.... which I have had since I was very young (which I understand why now)
Very very interesting- thanks for sharing that thought...
Oh- and as a PS.... this "vinny" guy ended up, years later applying for a job with my dad (he didn't know that my dad still worked there) and he was lucky enough to be paired up with my dad- my dad was his "mentor". Vinny lasted 3 days on the job. Pure karma. I love it :)
> Hi friends,
>
> I've been thinking about the source of my social anxiety, and it occurs to me that a couple of years' worth of bullying I endured as a kid may be at the core. I saw a post on another area of this board where the poster stated "My anxiety was caused by bullying" so then I thought I'd bring this up here in psycho-social. Anyone have any comments?
>
> fogmama
> (Who is already worried about bullying on behalf of her precious lil' baby who is still < 1yr old!)
poster:Angielala
thread:308985
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20040131/msgs/309753.html