In honor of October being National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, I wanted to share. Four years ago, I was bullied for the first time. It's not something I've openly talked about publicly, but my family, friends and co-workers know the NIGHTMARE I endured.
It was no one I knew, no one that I had ever met or seen before, but someone who I had a mutual friend with that for no logical reason at all, decided to attack me. This person created over 15 fake accounts on the internet and began attacking me (online) MULTIPLE times PER DAY for nearly SIX MONTHS. Constantly messaging me, my family members, THEIR family members, even my co-workers...
It was the WORST six months of my life. I had just started my business, we had just starting trying to conceive for a 2nd child, I was terrified because I had no idea at the time WHO this was or WHY they were doing this, I was afraid to be home alone, I was paranoid when I would go out, I didn't want to get out of bed, let alone go to work, I almost quit my full-job and my new business, it affected my marriage, my ability to be a mother, and for the first time in my life, I fell into a depression. I remember at one point saying to my husband...I understand why kids that are bullied feel suicidal. This person was trying to ruin my life and I couldn't get it to stop. I felt HOPELESS.
After several weeks, we got the police involved. They said it was the worst online harassment case they'd ever seen. Months later, after several warrants & subpoenas, they found out who it was and we went to court. Finally, IT STOPPED.
I have never talked about this publicly because it was the worst experience of my life and honestly, I never want to go back there. But while it's hard to talk about, I want to share what I DID to get through in case you, a family member or a friend are going through a similar situation and needs hope.
- Tell someone
- Get authorities involved
- Don't feed into/respond to their negativity
- Document everything
- KNOW that it's NOT your fault
- Keep your FAITH STRONG
- IT WILL STOP
- YOU WILL GET THROUGH IT
- It WILL pass
- And you will come out STRONGER in the end
As angry as I was that this person put me and my family through all of this, and the end of it all, I chose to pray for her, and then I chose to forgive her. And I prayed that if anything GOOD came out of this, that maybe one day my story could help someone else who is going through a similar situation and in need of strength ❤️
#AlwaysChooseKindness #LOVEwins
