Her content is really spot on and reflects a lot of my personal political views. Maybe that is why it stings like a knife. I remember her being such a demon and calling me such mean kind of names.

Yes, I know - people are able to change. People are able to overcome their younger self. It's stupid and childish to compare a 30-something to someone she had been when we were both 12/13.

My mother always told me that every single one of those bullies will have to suffer the consequences of their actions one day. I never believed her and now I have proof of it. Bully Girl is thriving and famous. She even published a book. I stuck in a dead-end job with an amateur podcast.

Still, I had one conversation with my father that really stuck with me and I will probably tell my therapist about it tomorrow.

Him: "I'm retired but I still dream about work on a regular basis and it scares me. I completely believe soldiers when they say they still have nightmares from war, even after decades."

Me: "I believe them too. That's why it's so import to make mental illnesses less of a taboo."

Him: "And that's why we shouldn't let in all those war refugees into our country! They're traumatized, they'll freak out once they're here!"

Me: "Well, we could try to help them with therapy and counseling."

Him: "Men don't do that!"

Me: "Like I said, that's why it's important to make mental illnesses less of a taboo, especially for men. Men deserve help too."

Him: "You can't change men, they won't accept therapy. They're not wired to talk to someone else about their problems."

Me: "You know what you can change? The approach. Maybe therapists just need a different approach on male patients than female patients."

He was quiet after that and avoided looking at me.

I'm pretty sure I hit some different kinds of nerves in him:

He is traumatized himself and was told that he doesn't "deserve help" all his life and suddenly society is changing and actively encourages men to get the help that HE never had AND he might realize that his theory on "evil war refugees" might have a different solution than "not letting them in".