Sticks and Stones and Words: Verbal Bullying Hurts

Remember the childhood saying, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but names with never hurt me?” This sentiment couldn’t be more wrong. People who deliberately and repetitively use words to hurt or attack others are verbal bullies.

Verbal bullying can take many forms: name calling, insults, threats, inappropriate jokes, non-stop teasing, criticism, swearing, and unkind comments about race, physical appearance, gender.

Verbal bullying is by far the most prevalent form of bullying at school, at home and in the workplace. In 1998 the Toronto Star reported that 50% of adults interviewed experience verbal abuse at some point in time.

According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), one in four companies experienced some form of verbal bullying in the past year and most incidents of bullying were between co-workers.

The level of verbal bullying at school remains constant from elementary school through to high school whereas physical bullying decreases in high school.

Verbal bullying can be devastating for the person on the receiving end. People who are bullied report loss of confidence and self-esteem, anxiety, insomnia, depression, poor work performance, reluctance to go to school or work, social isolation, loss of friendships, and the deterioration of personal relationships.

What can be done about verbal bullying? There are many and varied solutions depending on the situation and it would be impossible to outline them all here. However, there is something you can do about bullying – inform yourself, speak up, and get involved in your school, at your workplace, and in your community.

Let’s take Edward Everett Hale’s advice: “I am only one, but I still am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”