Bullies (True Stories of Life in a Psychiatric Hospital Book 9)

The issue of bullies and bullying, with its devastating consequences, has gained more attention in recent history. The victims appear on the news, often in the form of a picture provided by the family; perhaps the same picture that will be used for their memorial. They suffered in silence and in their death we hear their scream beyond the grave, “Why didn’t you help me?”

Finally, after enough senseless deaths, laws are being established across America and in our schools to provide safety nets for the bullied and punishment for the perpetrators. This is not enough though. Bullies operate by the same tactics as terrorists. Their main weapon is fear. The use it masterfully to silence the individuals targeted for torture. Fear is their chosen weapon, in order to continue to bully without consequences. They have also chosen their victims with this purpose in mind—they find young people who appear weak and timid, individuals who do not want to make their punishment worse. It has been made clear to these targets that it would be much worse if they told anyone—parents, teachers, and authority figures. The bullied, with mouth sealed, continues to get bullied; after all, they will see the terrorist tomorrow when they go to school—why make it worst?

In my counseling practice I have encountered countless young people—in just this year alone—who have entered my office with a variety of problems: most of which bullying was found to be the root cause. I have discovered “the bully” is nothing more than a playground terrorist and a coward. Who else but a coward picks on the weakest people and hides his identity in the shadow of threats? I will expose him or her so you may do the same.