Understanding the Connection Between Bullying and Dietary Choices

Written, edited, created, and published By Nisa Pasha — Executive Political Health Guru, Peer Counselor, and Educator, MentalHealthRevival.org

Bullying affects millions of people worldwide, leaving deep emotional scars that often extend beyond the playground or workplace. What many do not realize is that bullying can also influence physical health, including dietary habits. As someone who has navigated mental health challenges, I have seen firsthand how the stress and trauma from bullying can shape the way people eat, sometimes in harmful ways. This post explores the causes and effects of bullying, its surprising link to dietary choices, and practical steps to prevent both bullying and its negative impact on nutrition.

What Causes Bullying and Why It Matters

Bullying is not simply a matter of someone being “mean.” From a mental health and social systems perspective, bullying often develops as a coping behavior rooted in power imbalance, insecurity, and learned social conditioning. Individuals who bully may be responding to their own unmet emotional needs, internalized shame, fear of vulnerability, or exposure to environments where control and dominance were modeled as acceptable ways to relate to others. In institutions and systems—such as schools, workplaces, healthcare settings, or social service environments—bullying can also be reinforced when accountability is weak or when authority structures normalize dismissive or dehumanizing behavior.

Bullying takes many forms, including verbal degradation, physical intimidation, social exclusion, coercion, and digital harassment. For adults living with mental health conditions or disabilities, bullying is often more subtle but no less harmful. It may appear as being talked over, infantilized, dismissed, gaslit, or treated as less credible. These behaviors are especially damaging because they exploit existing vulnerabilities and reinforce systemic inequities.

When a person already faces barriers related to access, stigma, or dependency on services, bullying can become embedded in daily life rather than an isolated event.

For individuals with conditions such as bipolar disorder, major depression, anxiety disorders, or neurodevelopmental disabilities, bullying can intensify symptoms by increasing stress, disrupting emotional regulation, and undermining a sense of safety. Chronic exposure to invalidation or hostility can activate the nervous system in ways that make it harder to concentrate, rest, advocate for oneself, or trust others. Over time, this can erode self-confidence and reinforce harmful internal narratives, such as believing one’s needs are unreasonable or that mistreatment is deserved.

The psychological effects of bullying extend far beyond immediate emotional distress. Many people experience persistent anxiety, depressive symptoms, social withdrawal, and reduced self-worth. These impacts often spill into daily functioning, including sleep patterns, appetite regulation, medication adherence, and self-care routines. For disabled adults navigating systemic constraints—such as limited healthcare access, rigid benefit requirements, or dependence on institutional support—these disruptions can compound existing challenges and reduce overall quality of life.

Understanding the root causes of bullying is essential because it shifts the focus away from blaming individuals and toward addressing behaviors, environments, and systems that allow harm to continue. As peer educators and advocates, we emphasize the importance of recognizing bullying as both a mental health issue and a social justice concern. When we name it accurately and respond with education, boundaries, and systemic accountability, we create safer spaces that support dignity, autonomy, and healing for those most affected.

If you’d like, I can also:

• Adapt this for a training handout or workshop

• Rewrite it in a more academic or clinical tone

• Add a section on coping strategies and peer-based support

• Tailor it for a specific disability or mental health population

Just tell me how you’d like to use it.

A person sitting alone at a kitchen table with food untouched, showing the impact of bullying on appetite

Below is an **expanded, educational explanation** written from the perspective of a **mental health peer educator and counselor**, connecting **bullying, diet, nutrition, and the metaphor of “casting out devils”** in a grounded, non-religious, health-informed way that is appropriate for **disabled adults and people living under systemic constraints**.

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### How Bullying Is Impacted by Diet, Nutrition, and the Concept of “Casting Out Devils”

Bullying does not occur in a vacuum; it is shaped by biological, psychological, and social conditions. One often overlooked factor is the role of diet and nutrition in emotional regulation, impulse control, and stress tolerance. Nutrition directly affects brain chemistry, hormone balance, and nervous system functioning. When individuals are chronically undernourished, over-stimulated by ultra-processed foods, or deprived of stable access to nutritious meals, their capacity for patience, empathy, and self-regulation can be significantly reduced. In these states, frustration and irritability are more likely to be expressed outwardly, sometimes as bullying or aggressive behavior.

From a mental health lens, bullying behaviors can be understood as externalized distress. Poor nutrition can intensify mood instability, fatigue, and cognitive rigidity, which may lower a person’s ability to manage conflict or tolerate differences. This does not excuse harmful behavior, but it helps explain how physiological dysregulation can contribute to relational harm. In institutional or high-stress environments—such as schools, workplaces, shelters, hospitals, or care systems—nutritional neglect can become a systemic contributor to hostile or coercive dynamics.

For those on the receiving end of bullying, especially disabled adults or individuals with mental health conditions, nutrition plays a critical role in resilience and recovery. Chronic stress from bullying activates the body’s stress response, increasing cortisol and disrupting digestion, appetite, and metabolic balance. This can lead to disordered eating patterns, nutritional deficiencies, or reliance on low-cost, low-nutrient foods—especially when financial or systemic constraints limit food choice. Over time, this cycle can worsen anxiety, depression, and emotional exhaustion, making it harder to advocate for oneself or exit harmful environments.

The phrase “nutrition casting out devils” can be understood metaphorically rather than literally. In this context, the “devils” are not moral failings or personal weaknesses, but the cumulative effects of stress, shame, internalized oppression, and physiological imbalance. Adequate nutrition supports brain function, stabilizes mood, and strengthens the body’s capacity to recover from emotional harm. In this way, nourishment becomes a form of grounding and restoration—helping to quiet intrusive thoughts, reduce reactivity, and rebuild a sense of internal safety.

Importantly, discussions of nutrition must acknowledge systemic realities. Many disabled adults and individuals navigating mental health challenges face food insecurity, restrictive benefit systems, medical diets imposed without adequate support, or environments where food choices are controlled by institutions. In these contexts, bullying may also appear as food shaming, dietary policing, or dismissive attitudes toward culturally or medically necessary eating patterns. These behaviors reinforce power imbalances and further erode autonomy.

As peer educators and counselors, it is essential to frame nutrition not as a moral obligation or a cure-all, but as one component of holistic care. Supporting access to nourishing food, reducing shame around eating, and recognizing the links between diet, emotional regulation, and behavior can help interrupt cycles of harm. When individuals are better nourished—physically and emotionally—they are more capable of setting boundaries, responding rather than reacting, and participating in relationships that are rooted in dignity rather than domination.

Ultimately, addressing bullying requires both interpersonal accountability and systemic change. Nutrition, like safety and respect, is a foundational need. When it is honored, it can help “cast out” the conditions that allow bullying to thrive—not through blame or punishment, but through stabilization, compassion, and restored agency.

What Causes Bullying and Why It Matters

Bullying often stems from a desire to control or dominate others, fueled by insecurity, social pressures, or learned behavior. It can take many forms: verbal insults, physical aggression, social exclusion, or cyberbullying. For people living with mental health conditions such as manic depression, bullying can be especially damaging because it targets vulnerabilities and can worsen symptoms.

The effects of bullying go beyond immediate emotional pain. Victims often experience anxiety, depression, and lowered self-esteem. These psychological wounds can disrupt daily routines, including eating habits. Understanding the root causes of bullying helps us address

it more effectively and support those affected.

How Bullying Influences Dietary Choices

Stress from bullying triggers a complex response in the body. When someone feels threatened or anxious, the brain releases stress hormones like cortisol. Elevated cortisol levels can increase cravings for high-fat, sugary foods, which provide temporary comfort but can harm long-term health.

Some common dietary changes linked to bullying include:

• Emotional eating: Turning to food for comfort, often leading to overeating or binge eating.

• Loss of appetite: Stress and anxiety can suppress hunger, causing under-eating or skipping meals.

• Unhealthy food choices: Preference for processed, sugary, or fast foods instead of balanced meals.

• Irregular eating patterns: Skipping meals or eating at odd times due to disrupted routines or emotional distress.

  
  

For example, a young adult who faces bullying at school might find themselves eating large amounts of junk food late at night to cope with feelings of loneliness. Alternatively, someone else might lose their appetite entirely, leading to weight loss and nutritional deficiencies.

The Impact of Poor Diet on Mental Health

Diet and mental health are closely connected. Poor nutrition can worsen mood disorders, increase fatigue, and reduce the ability to cope with stress. For people with manic depression, maintaining a balanced diet is crucial to managing symptoms.

Nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and antioxidants support brain function and emotional stability. When bullying disrupts eating habits, it can create a vicious cycle where poor diet worsens mental health, which in turn makes coping with bullying even harder.

Practical Steps to Prevent Bullying and Support Healthy Eating

Preventing bullying requires a community effort, but there are specific actions individuals and caregivers can take to reduce its impact and promote better dietary habits:

Creating Safe Environments

• Encourage open communication about bullying experiences without judgment.

• Promote empathy and respect in schools, workplaces, and social groups.

• Provide access to counseling and support groups for victims.

  
  

Supporting Healthy Eating Habits

• Plan regular, balanced meals rich in whole foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains.

• Encourage mindful eating to help recognize hunger and fullness cues.

• Offer healthy snacks to reduce reliance on sugary or processed foods.

• Address emotional eating by finding alternative coping strategies such as journaling, exercise, or creative hobbies.

  
  

Building Resilience

• Teach stress management techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or yoga.

• Foster social connections to reduce feelings of isolation.

• Work with healthcare providers to monitor mental health and nutritional status.

  
  

A close-up of a balanced meal plate showing vegetables, grains, and protein to support mental health

A Personal Story Excerpt for Peer Support and Harm-Reduction

I didn’t understand for a long time how much food was shaping my mental health experiences, especially around bullying. When I was already overwhelmed—managing symptoms, navigating systems, trying to be taken seriously—it felt like bullying came from everywhere. Sometimes it was obvious, like cruel words or being talked down to. Other times it was quieter: people dismissing me, misinterpreting my reactions, or treating my distress as a character flaw instead of a response to pressure.

During some of the hardest periods, my diet reflected survival, not care. I ate what was available, affordable, and fast. A lot of it was heavily processed, sugary, or inconsistent. I didn’t connect the dots at first, but my mood was constantly on edge. I was irritable, exhausted, and reactive. When people pushed my boundaries or spoke harshly, I felt it deeply and immediately. My nervous system was already overloaded, so bullying didn’t just hurt emotionally—it felt like my whole body was under attack.

What surprised me was noticing how food also influenced the people around me. In stressful environments—clinics, group settings, workplaces—I saw patterns. When everyone was running on caffeine, skipped meals, or poor nutrition, tension rose. People snapped more easily. Authority figures were less patient. Peers were quicker to project their stress onto someone else. Bullying didn’t always come from cruelty; sometimes it came from dysregulation that had nowhere else to go.

As I slowly gained more stability, I started making small changes—not perfection, just consistency. Eating regular meals. Adding protein. Drinking more water. Choosing foods that didn’t spike and crash my energy as hard. The shift wasn’t dramatic, but it was real. My mood steadied. I had more pause between feeling hurt and reacting. When someone tried to dominate or belittle me, I felt more grounded. I could recognize, This is about them, not me.

Something else changed too: I stopped internalizing every attack. When my body felt more supported, my mind followed. I could see bullying as a stress response—sometimes learned, sometimes systemic, sometimes fueled by exhaustion and unmet needs. That didn’t excuse it, but it helped me protect myself emotionally. I became better at setting boundaries and walking away without carrying the shame.

This experience taught me that nutrition isn’t just about physical health—it’s about resilience. When we’re undernourished, stressed, and unsupported, bullying hits harder and spreads faster. When we’re even slightly more regulated, we have more room to respond with clarity instead of collapse or confrontation.

For me, healthier eating didn’t “fix” bullying, but it reduced how deeply it could wound me. It helped me reclaim some control in a world that often felt like it was stripping it away. And as a peer, that’s something I want others to know: supporting your body is not a moral task—it’s a protective one.

Moving Forward with Awareness and Compassion

Bullying is a serious issue that affects mental and physical health in ways many overlook. Recognizing the link between bullying and dietary choices helps us provide better support for those struggling. If you or someone you know is dealing with bullying, remember that help is available and small changes in eating habits can make a meaningful difference.

Focus on building safe spaces, encouraging healthy nutrition, and fostering resilience. These steps not only combat the effects of bullying but also promote overall well-being.

If you are facing bullying or its consequences, consider reaching out to mental health professionals or nutrition experts who understand your unique needs. Taking care of your body and mind is a powerful way to reclaim your strength.