A popular misconception is the belief that bullying is only direct violent attack on another. It is pertinent to note that bullying could be verbal, physical, cyber and social. Abuse however, is seen in more intimate gatherings or settings such as parenting, mentoring or fostering.
It has been psychologically tested with evident statistic that there is only a thin line between discipline and abuse, while most situations diplomacy is needed. We as humans employ discipline making the response not proportional to the necessity on ground. Most important, before delving into the subject matter is the fact that emotional abuse is far more fatal than any other form of abuse.
In a recent movie, titled “Head Gone”, though comically created but sends out some really sensitive messages to today’s youths and society at large. A lady ran mad because she was jilted by the same man that promised her marriage. the inquisitor in me was pricked to look into the possibilities of that happening real life. What I found out was that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is not restricted to brothers and sisters in arms.
Also among the many misconceptions is the fact that some certain individuals are above bullying, in the sense that they are funny, jovial and welcoming. No, some people through their verbal jokes trigger emotional downturn in others which feeds their own reaction and keep them alive and superior over others.
In relationships, it’s sometimes disheartening when folks who are in emotionally abusive relationships come out to sympathize with those who are physically abused. You know what is wrong when you see it and when you see right, vice versa. A good example here;
“A friend once told me a story of how he took a break from his relationship, just because he wanted to ingeminate his superiority in the relationship. Funny but improper was the kind of satisfaction and amusement he seemed to derive from seeing the innocent lady he claims to love dearly worry over nothing. Thinking about how she might have been the reason for what was happening. He said everything stopped when she missed an examination, though she claims it was not because of the fight but evidently it was’.
Statistics have shown that more cyber bully victims have committed or tried to commit suicide over these past years. The reason for quoting this is that cyber-bullying, body shaming, social exclusion, and verbal assaults are all targeted at one primary thing, which is the emotion of the receiver. These abuses, when processed can destabilize the victim’s psychological balance. And sometimes make them if not totally inferior but far from superior as expected of all humans.
The main crux of this article is to de-trivialize impact of non-violent bullying and abuses. As they are most lethal in impact on human psychology and emotions. When you find yourself in a relationship or association that seems to suppress your dignity and humanity through verbal or gestural abuses, then you are a victim of abuse. Either you stand tall and repel the actions, if strong enough or you take off! Bullying is real. It’s a direct attack on another’s body or emotions, effects vary from inferiority complex, to craziness and worst of all DEATH!
