According to UNICEF data, it informs us of how cyberbullying can affect our mental health

The Immediate Psychological Impact (Anxiety and Depression)

Cyberbullying, being a constant (24/7) invasion of the victim's safe space, generates a state of acute hypervigilance and anxiety.

The victim lives in constant fear of the next notification, the next message or the next humiliating post.

This state of permanent alertness exhausts psychological resources and is the prelude to generalized anxiety disorders and panic attacks.

In parallel, the public and viral nature of cyberbullying causes a sense of extreme humiliation and embarrassment.

The victim feels exposed to his or her entire environment (peers, family, strangers), leading to severe depression.

The feeling of helplessness, of not being able to escape and of being "guilty" of the situation, generates deep sadness and a total loss of interest in life.

Social isolation, which is both a consequence and a defense strategy, aggravates these depressive feelings, creating a vicious circle.

Erosion of Self-Esteem and Social Isolation

The goal of cyberbullying is to destroy the victim's reputation and self-concept. The constant insults and denigration cause the minor to internalize these negative messages, leading to a catastrophic erosion of self-esteem.

The victim begins to believe that the insults are true, that she is "weird," "ugly" or "worthless" and that she somehow "deserves" what is happening to her. This cognitive distortion is one of the most difficult sequelae to reverse.

As a direct consequence of this low self-esteem and fear of public humiliation, the victim becomes socially excluded.

They stop participating in group activities, avoid going to school and cut off communication with their friends, either out of shame or for fear that they will also see the humiliating content.

This voluntary isolation adds to the isolation forced by the aggressor, leaving the victim without any emotional support network, which is exactly what the bully is looking for.

Physical and High-Risk Consequences.

The psychological torment of cyberbullying somatizes in the body.

Chronic stress causes a variety of physical symptoms: sleep disorders (insomnia, nightmares), eating disorders (both binge eating and restriction), chronic headaches, gastrointestinal problems, and a general weakening of the immune system.

The victim's body reflects the state of siege in which his or her mind lives. In the most severe cases, cyberbullying is directly correlated with increased risk of self-harm and suicidal ideation.

The feeling that there is no escape, the absolute hopelessness and the belief that the pain will never end can lead the victim to consider suicide as the only way out.

Cyberbullying is therefore not a "virtual" problem; its consequences are real, physical and potentially lethal.

Summary

Cyberbullying affects mental health by generating high levels of anxiety, as the victim feels unsafe 24/7. Public humiliation and helplessness lead to severe depression.

The constant attack on the victim's image destroys her self-esteem, making her believe that she deserves the abuse. This causes the victim to become socially isolated, losing her support network

Psychological stress somatizes with insomnia, eating disorders and headaches. In severe cases, hopelessness can lead to self-harm or even suicidal ideation.