Bullying

Research on bullying concludes that victims of bullying in childhood suffer long-term effects on adult mental health, including anxiety, depression, substance use and behavioral disorders.

Being a victim of bullying has an impact on the well-being of children, including subjective health, life satisfaction, anxiety disorders, depression, physical symptoms, sleep disturbances, loneliness, social isolation, low self-esteem, feelings of hopelessness, self-harm, and aggression

Early trauma can lead to guilt, anger, feelings of powerlessness, self-harm, acting out, depression, and anxiety.

Post-traumatic stress disorder, which affects children and adults, can manifest in a number of ways, such as negative recurring thoughts about the traumatic experience, emotional numbness, sleep problems, difficulty concentrating, and extreme physical and emotional responses to anything that triggers a memory of the trauma.

Using trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) creates a framework for the therapist to work with victims of bullying.

This framework involves the following:

• Psychoeducation which teaches the victim about the normal reactions to traumatic experiences. This can help them reduce feelings of guilt.

• Coping skills including relaxation exercises like deep breathing, mindfulness and creating acceptance.
• Gradual exposure which involves gradually introducing the patient to memories of their traumatic experience, with the goal of reconditioning their response to triggers and easing emotional distress.
• Cognitive processing which can include developing skills to recontextualize unhelpful feelings and thoughts, and regulate emotions.
• Caregiver involvement which may include rebuilding trusting adult relationships for the child and training the caregiver in how to best be a resource for the child (if the bullying is happening presently)

The goal of this treatment is to help the patient develop a sense of safety and security, to repair or develop healthy social skills.