They Said It Was Something Small

Adyasha experienced bullying as a child. There was also betrayal from somebody she considered a friend. The experiences affected her confidence and ability to trust people. But when she tried to speak about what was happening, adults sometimes treated it as something small. Children fight. Children tease. You'll get over it. Except Adyasha did not simply get over it. The experiences followed her. They shaped her self-esteem and relationships. As she grew older, she began understanding how deeply childhood experiences can affect mental health. Eventually, she turned those experiences into advocacy. She began speaking about the invisible scars children sometimes carry. Her story matters because loneliness becomes worse when other people tell you the thing hurting you is not important. Being heard may not erase the experience. But it can stop you from carrying it entirely alone. What hurt you deeply even though other people treated it as something small? This is an editorial retelling of a documented account. Original storyteller: Adyasha Priyadarshini. Country: India. Source: UNICEF India.