How much did being bullied as a child contribute to your Social Anxiety?

[Valinda]

How much did being bullied as a child contribute to your SAD? Could be bullying by a parent, other kids or both. Is that the usual cause of SAD?

 

[BlackPuma]

For me it was caused by all of it. Well, that and being constantly humiliated by my so-called friends.

Not sure whether that goes for most of the others.. But bullying can surely trigger it.

 

[Predacon]

I suffered my share of school yard bullying, but nothing extreme. I'd probably be the same if I hadn't experienced any.

 

[Kiwong]

It is a huge part of what I am suffering from now.

The bullying included physical violence, but also a lot verbal abuse, some of the most hurtful coming from girls.

 

[EscapeArtist]

I really don't think I would have SA if it weren't for being bullied by my fam. as a child.

Moving from a very good elementary where I was included and admired, to an elementary where the teachers exclaimed that I was "nothing special" also made me feel inadequate. I began to only receive positive attention for my 'intelligence' and the things I did well, like my art. I learned that being the best will bring admiration, and thought at the time nothing else could. And thus a perfectionist was born! Hungry for acceptance and respect that my family did not give me, thinking the only way to achieve it was to be the best at everything.

Being excluded at that school also made me feel like a freak that just did not belong. Is exclusion considered to be a form of bullying?

 

[davidburke]

yes caused it for me. I got bullied in school

 

[Dronee]

I learned that being the best will bring admiration, and thought at the time nothing else could. And thus a perfectionist was born! Hungry for acceptance and respect that my family did not give me, thinking the only way to achieve it was to be the best at everything.

Very well said.

 

[Acegame]

I never have been bullied. Actually when i think back at my time in primary school i was a bit of a bullie myself sometimes. Lately i start realizing that. Somehow i didnt realized that back then. But lately i think about it sometimes and feel really bad about it. Im not sure they felt it as being bullied though. But anyway, i guess now im paying the price for that....

 

[Orbital]

Yes I was bullied a lot verbally and I think that's the main cause of my SA. Having to put up with that every day at school just made me want to retreat into my own world and not have to deal with people.