WoRd VoMiT

Teasing between friends is often heard in the hallways. A joke here and there doesn't do much harm.  But the line between teasing an bullying is a fine one.  I know that harsh words are sometimes said to hurt someone's feelings, but i'd like to think that these words weren't meant to permanently damage a person.  The problem is that most times they do.  Bullies don't realize that what they blurt out truly affects a person for life.  Sometimes they can just brush it off their shoulder and move on, but this is a rarity.   I was recently speaking with a friend of mine who has severe anxiety issues.  He confessed to me that he never had these problems until he was teased and bullied so much in junior high and the beginning of high school.  At first I was shocked.  How could someone's word vomit cause such permanent issue inside someone?  But it made sense to me soon after.  He was always nervous of what would be said next.  Always self conscious. He kept track of every move he made and of every move around him.  Constantly checking his surroundings.  And all because of a bully who flicked a few words off his tongue without thinking.  The bully moves on instantly, but those words stick with his victim for life.  It really is something to consider before you blurt out something you might regret.