DD13 having rumors spread about her?

[Anonymous]

When rumors spread in school 90% of them are completely untrue but when gossip spreads it can be very painful. It happened to my daughter. The most outlandish rumor. Didn't even make sense, but it got out of hand and ruined her entire 8th grade. She chose to look away and take the higher road hoping it would stop but it never did. She self harmed and had panic attacks. Diagnosed with PTSD and after 2 years later is finally recovering. These kids have no idea how words can affect other people and they don't care. And people tend not to stop them so they are the next victim.

[Anonymous]

She needs tools to regain control of the situation. Empower her to stand up for herself and give her some language to confront the girls, "Why are you spreading lies about me? Don't you have anything better to do?"

If this doesn't work, get the admin involved. Call a meeting with you, DD, the rumor spreaders and their parents and administration. The admin needs to lay out their bullying policy and what the consequences are if they don't find something else to do with their time. If these girls have a habit of doing this, it needs to be nipped before it has a lasting impact on another or the rumors get out of control.

[Anonymous]

Social media is toxic.

[Anonymous]

This happened to my daughter as her group of friends dropped her one fine day. And they kept spreading rumours about her to others so that wouldn't hang with her or let her sit at their lunch table. It was a very painful event but I told her to keep her high and ignore them. I asked her to act as if it didn't bother her. It was very difficult but eventually she did and the minute she starting acting as though it didn't bother her. It died down pretty fast and they left her alone. Of course it took a long time for her to understand the fact that she had to learn to ignore them and act as if they didn't exist. Best of luck to your daughter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This happened to my daughter as her group of friends dropped her one fine day. And they kept spreading rumours about her to others so that wouldn't hang with her or let her sit at their lunch table. It was a very painful event but I told her to keep her high and ignore them. I asked her to act as if it didn't bother her. It was very difficult but eventually she did and the minute she starting acting as though it didn't bother her. It died down pretty fast and they left her alone. Of course it took a long time for her to understand the fact that she had to learn to ignore them and act as if they didn't exist. Best of luck to your daughter.

Was she able to make other friends easily after that or were other kids cautious that they will be targeted too and ignored her?

[Anonymous]

She eventually made new friends again. It took time but she is in a much better place now. she was thinking about it much more than the others were thinking about it.