Soph stop right now!!!!

Go talk to yopur family this minuite, tell them how you feel about school and why, thats an easy positive for you and you'll certainly feel better when you have someone to talk things through with. You are their child and they will want to help you with this.

Soph, perhaps you don't know how to say all this to your parents or where to begin?

Can I ask everybody else what you all think about this suggestion - I'm not sure. What about Soph showing her parents these threads? Would you want to do that Soph, and is it a good idea or not everybody?

Or getting a teacher to tell her parents?

Thoughts anyone?

Personally, I don't know if Sophie's parents would be too happy about her posting all of this on an internet site so that's something that only Sophie can judge, depending on how her parents feel about internet fora and the like. If they approved, it could be a good way for her to show them though.

Getting a teacher to talk to her parents might be better though, if Soph doesn't want to talk to her parents herself.

I will sort it out, im just not sure how yet.

A new year, a new me?? Maybe but I have to work on my confidence and stop letting people bother me when they make a comment.

Start by telling your parents you feel down. Then you can tell them what the problems are at school, who you have difficulties with and how brave you've been trying to sort it yourself.

Don't think showing this thread to your parents would serve any useful purpose other than to get the ball rolling as you've not actually gone into any detail and nor should you.

Soph take the bull by the horns and tonight, around the diner table or before the TV gets switched on tell them. If you can't talk to them directly ask your brother or sister to tell them you are sad and wait until your parents aproach you.

I hope I have made the right decision tonight, but if something is holding me back, then isnt it best to forget all about it and hopefully I can start going forward for the better?

Hi Soph,

I've only just spotted this thread so apologies if I'm saying things others have said as I speed read a bit.

I have had the same experiences of bullying. The reasons for it don't matter as there is no valid reason to bully anyone, so don't think about how you can change yourself etc... You don't need to. They have the problem and not you.

It's easy to say ignore it, but it's a difficult thing to do in practise. Girls in particular can be very nasty when they get together, and most of them only join in so they don't end up being bullied themselves.

I was very shy, so got picked on by one particular group until sixth form. I think I was probably a bit gawky looking until I was about 15, with greasy hair and big thick glasses! Being reasonably bright probably didn't help my case much either...

For the moment, try to tell someone if at all possible. If it isn't your parents, there could be a teacher you could confide in who will keep an eye out for you without openly making a scene and aggravating matters. Try to find friends outside of school who have common interests, as that can give you something to look forward to at the weekends or evenings.

Verbal bullying does hurt as much if not more than physical bullying. Don't dignify anything bad said to you with a reply.

You have a right to be happy and get some peace in your life! Being nice and sweet no matter what people throw at you might be the right thing to do in theory, but it's also a good way to end up as a doormat.

My mum and dad used to give me quite conflicting advice. Mum would say "if someone hits you, walk away and tell someone about it. You are the better person etc..." My dad would say "if someone hits you, hit them back twice as hard!" If the first method doesn't work - I'd try the second. I realise some others might not agree with me here, but everyone has a limit to the level of abuse they can cheerfully put up with.

Hey, thanks for your advice. I agree there is only so much you can take.

I hope you got things sorted.

Soph