Diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome at six, 11-year-old Gunit Banga shares how she deals with bullying at school

Eleven-year-old Gunit Banga has faced the challenges of bullying since being diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome at the age of six. This condition causes excessive protein to leak from damaged kidneys, leading to significant body changes. Despite these difficulties, Gunit has managed to maintain her confidence and become a beloved content creator, working with influencers such as Orry.

When asked about her experiences with bullying, Gunit shared that she has sometimes desired to retaliate, but chose to ignore the behavior in order to preserve her hard-earned respect in school. She explained that she would sometimes ask the bully, "Are you paying for my food?" However, Gunit emphasized that children should first attempt to ignore the bullying, and if the behavior persists, they should seek help from someone they trust, such as a parent, teacher, or counselor.

Dr. Rimpa Sarkar, a psychologist from Sentier Wellness in Mumbai, explained that children can exhibit emotional distress from bullying without showing it openly. They may become more self-conscious, question others' perceptions of them, or believe they are being targeted. Dr. Sarkar stressed that children should not be encouraged to retaliate physically, as this can escalate the situation and put them at a greater risk.

Instead, children should be taught to tell the bully to stop, move away from the situation, and approach a trusted adult for assistance. In cases of repeated bullying, documenting incidents and addressing them with the school is recommended, rather than leaving the child to handle the problem alone. Furthermore, Dr. Sarkar advised that children feeling lonely at school should not feel pressured to immediately make a large group of friends.

Instead, they can approach one approachable, kind individual who shares their interests or is already comfortable with them.