Parents and teachers may notice signs that a child is a victim of bullying or harassment before the child speaks out. It is important to ask questions and keep a close eye on the child to make sure she is not a victim of bullying. Parents may notice aggression with siblings as she acts out the bullying with her family members. Other signs are increased anxiety and insomnia. Her grades may drop as she is unable to concentrate in school. She may try to avoid school in an effort to avoid the bully. Concentrating and participating in class can become difficult for victims of bullying.
If victims of bullying are unable to report the abuse or the abuse goes unnoticed, the appropriate intervention cannot take place. This leaves the student at risk for developing effects in later childhood or even adolescence and adulthood. If he is unable to express his anger regarding the bullying, he may develop depression and health problems. Low self-esteem can linger into adulthood as victims may have a hard time letting go of the victim mentality. The victim may also develop symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, including hyper-alertness, being easily startled and emotionally distant.
A student who is bullied at school will often have a stress response which tells her body to fight or flight. This is a common reaction to perceived danger. If the child is able, she will reach out for help and hopefully the appropriate authority figures will assist her in stopping the bullying. A child who is unable to reach out for help, or who does reach out for help but still endures bullying, may be in a constant state of stress due to the feeling of lack of control, the inability to predict when the bully will strike again, the expectation of continued abuse and a lack of support systems.
Victims of bullying and harassment may develop physical symptoms such as headaches, stomach aches or aches and pains throughout their bodies. Weight loss can result if a child's lunch or lunch money is being stolen on a daily basis. Depression, stress and anxiety can also cause a child to eat less. Physical symptoms can also help a child avoid school if his parents think he is sick. It can also assist him with getting out of the classroom or gym class.