Bullying affects children and adults at home, school, work and online, making victims feel trapped, isolated and alone. If you’ve ever been the victim of bullying, you need not suffer in silence. There are 6 helplines in Illinois, United States where you can get the support and understanding you deserve. These are some common experiences of people being bullied:

Others have frequently shamed, taunted or threatened you on social media.
One or more people have repeatedly sworn at, called names, taunted or physically harassed you.
You have been threatened or physically harassed by others on a regular basis.
You have been threatened or physically tripped, pushed, hit, kicked or spat at by someone.
You have been socially isolated and made to feel different, ashamed and alone.
You have been taunted, teased, threatened or harmed by others.
You have been trolled, insulted or humiliated on social media.
One or more people have spread rumours about you, whether true or untrue.

These are all ways in which bullies might try to boost their status at your expense, making you feel shamed, isolated and small. Yet, bullying in no way reflects who you truly are, what you’re capable of achieving, how you actually look, or how much you are valued by others.

The victims of bullying come from all walks of life, from every school, playground, workplace and online platform. You may be sceptical about whether helpline support in Illinois, United States will work for you, especially if you have been treated badly in the past. The good news is that helpline staff are well-trained to help people with experiences like yours.