I'm sorry that happened to you. People can be jerks. That being said, the concept of "strength" we've been conditioned to beleive is dead wrong. Strength isn't loud bravado. Strength isn't knocking people out. True strength is so much more than those things.

I too, have my own mental health issues, as you know, including, but not limited to Autism, PTSD, panic disorder and anxiety (probably a little depression too). And I know a lot of people with varying degrees of mental health issues (in fact I worked with the mentally ill in group homes for years before I went to law school.....shit, now I feel a story coming....)

Anyway, strength is knowing and accpeting yourself. Strength is standing in your truth. Strength is doing the best you can each and every day with what you've been given. Strength is knowing when to say yes and when to say no. Strength is being secure enough in who you are not to call others weak...