TEEN QUESTION/PROBLEM:
I [age 15-16] went out with this guy[16-17], and he dumped me for another girl[15-16]. I never blamed this girl for the situation after all “you can lead a horse to water but you cant make them drink.” but anyways she decided she hates me, because my ex started saying all this **** about me that was not true. This time last year I was going out with this guy, and at the end of January is will be one year since we broke up. For the last year I have endured more bullying then most kids ever even see during their four years in high school. This girl and her friends are heartless, I am convinced. They make fun of everything, from my looks all the way down to the way I walk. Any flaw they can see or hear about they amplify it and non stop harass me. Three times now I have been very brutally thrown against a wall and been yelled at and taunted by this girl and her friends. I cant fight back because I have a goal to get into college and if we fight we will be suspended and we will both have assault on our record till were 21. The biggest problem is when she starts talking about my weight. She calls me fat every chance she gets. I stopped wearing tight clothes thinking they could no longer call me fat at least and they flipped it around and started calling me a fat pregnant whore, and saying that I was wearing baggy clothes because I was trying to hide that I was pregnant. We watched a movie in health about a girl who had a problem with another girl over a guy and in the end the girl that was being bullied nearly killed herself. Be fore this whole thing started a year ago If I had watched that movie I would have laughed and thought that nobody is that cruel. That is what my class mates did after the movie was over. I know differently. The insults in that movie were G rated. The ones I receive on a daily basis are not, they are worse than that, much worse. They are to the point where I cant even eat anymore. I’m dropping weight , I’m terrified to admit that through all the harassment I have devolved an eating disorder. I cant eat without crying, and even when I’m not eating I still cry a ! lot. I h ave always been a strong person but the last year has taken quite a toll on me. My dad is an alcoholic, and on top of that he has cancer. My parents are strained financially and divorcee doesn’t seem to far in the future. I’m to my breaking point. Somebody tell me how to handle this. How can I stop the harassment when talking doesn’t work. I feel so hopeless, its been a whole year and it hasn’t stopped, mind you I did nothing to them. I would not wish this kind of harassment on anyone, not even somebody I dislike.
TEEN LINE WROTE:
Hey, I just want you to know I'm here for you, and I'm really glad you emailed us. It must be really frustrating and saddening for you when these girls bully you at school; it's really admirable that even though they treat you cruelly, you still wouldn't wish that treatment on them. I think you are a really strong person, like you said, and it sounds like you're being very mature about this situation. Have you tried talking to your mom about this? Is she someone you feel you could talk to about what you're going through? Or, is your health teacher, or any other teachers, or even a school counselor someone you feel comfortable talking to about what you're going through? I'm concerned about you mentioning an eating disorder and I want to give you a referral to an eating disorder hotline called NEDA (National Eating Disorder Association): (800) 931-2237. They provide resources, information, and referrals to treatment centers. I also want to give you another referral to a counseling service, in case you feel you want to call. I don't know exactly where in Washington you live, but in Seattle there are a lot of experienced counselors who can help, and you can find them and other links on this website: http://www.networktherapy.com/directory/therapist_results.asp?c1=Seattle&c3=WA. I hope this helps you. It sounds like you might really want someone to talk to, and I just want to let you know TEEN LINE is always here for you, 6-10pm PST if you want to call: (310) 855-4673. We're open from 6-10pm, and the number is (310) 855-4673. You can also live chat with us on our website www.teenlineonline.org. I really hope things get better for you and if you ever feel like things are out of control, don't hesitate to call.
a TEEN LINE teen