How can bullying affect adults?

When we think of bullying, we often think of young kids calling one another names or acting hurtful towards one another. This is, unfortunately, only half the story. What happens when those kids were bullied growing up, and what about the kids who were doing the bullying? How can bullying affect adults?

Bullying by definition is the repeated use of force or hurtful teasing done to intimidate or dominate. There is often the idea of one person having more “power” than the other- whether through a social standing or a hierarchy (i.e., a boss and subordinate in a work environment). These situations are more common as adults than we realize, specifically because oftentimes, individuals suffer in silence and do not bring these issues up. After all, we are adults; we should be able to handle problems, right?

When you are bullied as a child, the feelings that result in stick with you for a lifetime. That does not mean you have not learned to cope with them; however, being bullied is more often than not a traumatic situation for young kids. This can lead to symptoms of depression and anxiety well into adulthood. Bullying was once thought of as a rite of passage from adolescence to adulthood; however, what happens when you are victim to bullying as an adult?

Bullying is not limited to the young- as adults; there are frequent situations when bullying is evident in everyday life. While it may not be as obvious as in school-aged kids, think about incidents of bullying in the workplace, family get-togethers, or even kids sporting events. Just because we are older and wiser, does that make the effect bullying has on us any less damaging? Bullying can impact your physical health and can lead to headaches, muscle pain, and difficulty sleeping.

Regardless of age, bullying hurts on many levels. It is a falsehood to believe bullying stops once you reach a certain age. It also does not get easier to cope with when you are older.