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Scantilyclad I also relate to what you said about how it warped your self-image. Reminds me of my sister who to this day thinks that her long legs are a BAD feature and wears long skirts and pants to keep them covered. If a guy sees her in shorts or a swimsuit and whisltes she gets upset because she thinks he's being sarcastic and making fun of her 'horrible' legs. Because at school she was picked on for being tall and called 'lanky' (though she wasn't at all lanky).

Anja - laughter can neutralize bullies, laughing at them, but you have to genuinely feel the laughter. If they get a whiff of it being insincere, like you're just trying to PRETEND you find it funny to cover for being actually hurt, they'll zoom in on that like vultures. You have to make them believe they're being scorned.