I'm curious as to people's views on childhood/adolescent bullying. Is it a normal thing which children should be encouraged to overcome, but otherwise left to their own to make sense of, or entirely ignored, or given some other response? Can childhood bullying ever be considered abuse, or is it too simple and normal for that? Seems it has become an issue since the infamous Columbine, but never too huge. An interesting book on the topic is Frank Peretti's "The Wounded Spirit."
While I'm interested in discussion on this, I also ask for personal reasons. I'm trying to make sense of myself and the things I've faced. From about the time I was 7-14 every peer I met either ignored, used-abandoned, or bullied me. I especially remember 6th grade, when I entered a new school, quickly was accepted, only to be turned against by one insecure girl and ganged up on by the majority of the class. It wasn't enough for them to leave me alone and friendless, they followed me around to taunt and degrade me, made lies to get me in trouble and against anything I said about their actions, and at times circled around to trap, push and hit me. As a result of the way they treated me and in addition to the depression/loneliness/worthlessness that had been building a few years, I tried bulimia, began abusing myself, became very suicidal, and also spent time considering ways to kill them(which ended and turned inward when I left the school). Was this abuse?
All opinions/comments are appreciated, even if it's "you're a wimp for letting that bother you," or without response to my experience but only the question, or your experiences... relating comments... yada yada yada. Thanks.