Warsash blogger overwhelmed by support for bullying and mental health post

Nathan Clifford from Warsash started blogging recently about his battle with mental health since he was a child and was left overwhelmed by support for his latest post on bullying.

The 29-year-old said:  '˜I wrote this blog on the back on Anti Bullying Week. It was never intended to be as open as this, but it just came out.

'˜When reflecting on what I had written. I very nearly hit the delete button, but managed to get the courage to publish it.'

Nathan's post entitled '˜School Halls Were Battlegrounds' described in detail how his 11-year-old self felt when he was bullied 

Extracts read: '˜From a very early age at school, I was bullied mercilessly, both physically and mentally, and it was a prolonged trauma that has rewired the way my brain works and shaped the way I view myself today.

'˜Being bullied is one of the loneliest places to be; it doesn't just destroy you. It isolates you. 

'˜I reinvented myself at college, as many people do. But the feeling of being an imposter never really faded. I always felt like a fraud, like any minute now, they'd realise who I really was and what I really deserved.

'˜I hope no one ever has to go through what I went through. I hope we can all start looking a little harder for the people that hide. After all, I never succeeded in making myself disappear completely.'

Nathan's honest post struck a chord with people from around the world who have had similar experiences and feelings.

He said: '˜Since sharing the story, the support and encouragement has meant the world to me. I have had a few people reach out, from both sides, the bullied and the bullies, and say how much it has resonated with them and had an impact.

'˜They have said how the story of hiding my experiences will make them look a little harder at people that may be hiding and open themselves up to being a source of support.'

Nathan, who now works at Southern Health using his patient experience to improve services, hopes his blog will help just one person.

He added: '˜I have had parents ask what they could do to ensure their children do not go through the same.

'˜A number of people say that I should try and share this story more widely, as it may be a source of comfort and insight to a lot of people and may even encourage people to reach out to those that they think may also be in the same position I was '“ I think that would be amazing beyond words.'

To read Nathan's blog visit mebyexperience.blogspot.com/