When real things happen to imaginary people

I was bullied for my weight, sexuality, and religion (or lack thereof) in middle school, and now even as a college sophomore, I still have severe self esteem and emotional issues because of it. People who say bullying is just a part of life, and authority figures who sit by idly, clearly have no idea what it actually feels like to be harassed verbally and physically every day.
I only have purple socks, but I tried.