You are “fat, stupid and ugly” (Diana’s story) STORY DESCRIPTION
PUPILS AGE
My story begins when I was younger, but it has intensified in the last two years. I've always been a little fuller than kids my age. I had colleagues who looked at me badly or told me I was a little fat, but it was rare. Two years ago I went to secondary school and entered a class with new colleagues. At first, they were texting each other and laugh at me, and that made me sad, but I didn't know what they were writing. Then, they started sending me messages on Whatsapp telling me that I was "fat, stupid and ugly". They sent messages on the Whatsapp group of the class with my photos taken from Facebook and made caricatures; they said that I am like a "cow", like a "whale". They never called me by name, only "fat", "whale", "piglet". It happened every day. I was desperate, but I had no one to tell. I didn't want my parents or teachers to know. I even started to saw and believe myself ugly and stupid, because I was fat. So I started not eating anymore, as much as I could. Or if I ate, I would go to the bathroom and vomit. I managed to lose weight, my parents really wondered what was wrong with me, but I told them that's what I wanted. But messages from the internet continued to appear. And because I didn't eat, I couldn't concentrate so well, my grades lowered. I didn't feel well at all, I was dizzy, I felt very sad and I was crying. I somehow wanted to shout for help, but I didn't have the strength to tell anyone what was happening to me. Sometimes I wished I hadn't been born or to die so I wouldn't be a burden to others. A few months ago, I had a crisis, I was told to have a calcium fall, and I got to the hospital. Their doctors told my parents that I had severe anemia and that I was depressed and suffering from bulimia. While I was unconscious, my older sister discovered the messages on my phone and showed them to my parents. My parents and sister helped me a lot and I felt that I was loved, they were very supportive. They also talked to my teachers and I found out that I am not the only one from school in this situation. Now we all take part in lessons related to cyberbullying, our teachers tell us how to react and what to do in such cases. I also started a psychotherapy program and learned to accept myself as I am. And I discovered some colleagues with whom I get along quite well. I wish I had said earlier what was happening to me.
12 YEARS
