Consequences for the victim of being bullied

Impact on Mental and Emotional Health

The consequences of bullying are profound and affect the victim's mental health as a priority.

The continuous subjection to a situation of stress, fear and humiliation generates a permanent state of alertness that erodes the emotional stability of the child.

The most immediate and visible consequences are usually high levels of anxiety, which manifest themselves not only as constant worry, but also through physical symptoms such as headaches, gastrointestinal problems or sleeping difficulties (insomnia or recurrent nightmares).

Depression is another serious sequela; the feeling of learned helplessness, deep sadness and loss of interest in previously pleasurable activities (anhedonia) are clear indicators. This impact extends to self-esteem.

Bullying functions as a distorted mirror that constantly repeats to the victim messages of worthlessness, inferiority or of being "deserving" of the abuse.

The child internalizes this narrative, developing a negative self-concept that can last into adulthood.

In the most severe cases, this distress can lead to suicidal ideation or self-harming attempts, as the victim perceives that there is no possible escape from his or her suffering.

Bullying destroys the basic sense of security that a child should have in his or her environment.

Repercussions in the Social and Academic Sphere

The impact of bullying transcends the personal sphere and directly affects the victim's social development and academic performance. Socially, the child who suffers bullying tends to isolate him/herself.

He may begin to actively avoid common spaces (playground, lunchroom, extracurricular activities) where he knows he may encounter his aggressor.

This avoidance, which is a defense mechanism, ends up isolating him even more from his peers, making it difficult to create bonds of friendship and support networks that could protect him.

He develops a deep distrust of others, interpreting neutral interactions as potentially hostile. Academically, the consequences are direct.

Anxiety and fear consume an enormous amount of cognitive resources, making it difficult to concentrate and attend in class.

Truancy (physical or "mental") becomes an escape strategy.

The child may feign illness in order to avoid going to school, a place that has ceased to be a place for learning and has become a source of threat.

As a direct result, there is a drop in academic performance, which aggravates their sense of failure and adds another layer of stress to their situation.

Summary

The consequences of bullying on the victim are devastating, primarily affecting their mental health. It manifests itself through high levels of anxiety, severe depression and a profound erosion of self-esteem.

This impact carries over into the academic environment, causing a drop in performance. Lack of concentration and school absenteeism are avoidance strategies in the face of constant fear in the educational environment.

Socially, the victim tends to isolate him/herself and develops a great distrust of his/her peers. This isolation makes it difficult to create support networks, perpetuating their vulnerability to the aggressor.