Bullied As A Child? It Could Still Be Damaging You In Adulthood

It's hard to look dignified when a jug full of school custard has just been emptied into your lap. But life had been full of indignities since we'd moved up North. With an unfortunate London accent, from the age of nine, I was bullied by the group of girls I called my new friends.

The unwritten rules of this clique were a mystery to me. I put up with the whisperings behind my back, the exclusions from their in-jokes and the humiliations; all I wanted was to belong.

When I got punched in the face by the ringleader for speaking when it "wasn't my turn" I made no attempt to throw a punch back - I just cried.