I get you. I had lots of friends in ordinary school. Then changed schools and struggled. Then changed schools 12 months later and went right off the rails. I’m still affected by it today, 20 odd years later

I am glad you feel better than before and I am sure all of us felt like that growing up because society is always judging on how we look etc. I find doing things such as volunteering , or learning a new skills makes me more of a confident person and it is best to focus on achievements than looking at the mirror all the time . My kids have counsellors at school and they are told to be open up to feelings etc which helps with coping in life . Thank you for sharing and being a courageous person .

Feeling accepted and loved is one of the fundamental things that we all need and strive for. When we have feelings of not being accepted as a child it can be really hard as an adult to feel differently. Those feelings can come back when you least expect it. Hope you have been able to realise your worth is so much more than what you felt growing up.

Thanks for your thoughts and words of encouragement

I totally agree with you. It is so easy to be mean and say unkind words, as well as just be thoughtless and barge over people without thinking where they are coming from and what they have gone through. I’m so glad you’re a winner and have managed to overcome the difficulties. It is a shame that weight is one thing that people (especially immature ones) pick on; there are plenty of other things they can be mean about too. At the end of the day you need the mental toughness and resilience (as they call it these days) just to be happy where you are at and bounce back after any set backs. I also think older people tend to be more accepting as they have often grown up a bit and don’t pick on others as much. But it is hard for young people stuck with immature peers since they often can’t mix across generations so easily.