While in the doctor’s office the other day I caught a glimpse of the verdict in the Phoebe Prince case. The young lady who ended her life after being bullied by her classmates. It’s a sad case.
Not only did she lose her life, but her tormentors lives are ruined forever as well. Young lives wasted, because people felt the need to use their words to hurt others.
I remember the old adage “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” Ha! Whatever…This is a LOAD of crap. Words can hurt just as badly, sometimes more. They can invade your soul and make you question everything about yourself.
Verbal abuse and bullying are a dirty little secret that people ignore. “Oh it’s just words, you know that’s not true.” But the pain is still there. Festering. And the bruises are hidden, and can have lasting effects on the abused.
It can affect anyone at anytime.
The employee who is constantly threatened and berated by a boss.
The classmates who post insults on Facebook.
Or as in my case “the boyfriend” who uses you as a verbal punching bag.
As I mentioned in Friday’s post, I’m a guest blogger over at Blogger Body Calendar to help promote survivorship and hope for those who feel they can’t fight back.
Here’s part of my story…
“Do you want to be a victim or a survivor,” my therapist asked me.
I couldn’t answer her.
This was my fourth suicide attempt. This time it was BAD. ER doctors, stomach pumping, a two-day stint in ICU, and a week stint in the psych ward kind of bad. I guess that’s what happens when you down half a bottle of your anti-depressants with a Captain Morgan chaser.
How the hell did I get here?
I met a guy and after a whirlwind romance we moved in with each other. Everything was great I thought I was in love and this was it “the one”.
Then it happened.
“You’re a fucking bitch.”
I stood there like a deer in headlights. Was he talking to me?
I hope after you read my story you take the time to read other stories of survival and it inspires you to make a difference.
Verbal abuse and bullying are an epidemic and can be stopped if we use words of love instead of hate.
*Thank you to Allison at Alli ‘n Son for letting me share my story.
>whoa…I had no idea. Together, us survivors, are a strong force us support and compassion. *Hugs*
>first off, thank you for sharing your powerful story — you are a survivor. i found it difficult to read the comments of that "man," and i can't imagine how it would feel to have them directed at you, about you. i'm glad you are here to share your story of survival and strength and that he did not win.