Lara Álvarez, one of Spain’s most recognizable media personalities, has once again addressed a pressing social issue by sharing details of her challenging childhood. She firmly believes that her story, which took place three decades ago, can serve as support for those facing aggression today. The host stated that she is ready to share her experience as many times as necessary if it can help even one person.
In her reflections, she delved into deeply personal experiences, admitting that past trauma does not disappear without a trace. According to her, there is still a little girl living somewhere deep inside, in need of healing. And it is precisely by helping others and turning her painful experiences into a tool for support that she finds the best therapy. Álvarez described two paths for those who have endured bullying: to withdraw into oneself, hiding the suffering, or to transform the pain into action that protects others from a similar fate. She believes the second option is the only right and mentally healthy one.
The TV presenter paid special attention to how the very nature of harassment has changed with the advent of the digital age. Whereas aggression was once confined to the school walls, today, with the growth of social networks, it has become a round-the-clock nightmare. Cyberbullying leaves victims with no space to rest, pursuing them 24/7. Although society has become more aware and new tools have emerged to combat this phenomenon, according to Álvarez, the problem has only grown more complex, and much still needs to be done to address it.
The key point she emphasizes is the victim’s psychology. The first feeling is often shame and the thought that the problem lies within themselves. That is why it is so important not to stay silent. The presenter highlights that as soon as a person finds the strength to speak up to family or friends, when they receive support and name the issue for what it is—“I am being bullied”—they are no longer facing the problem alone. This is a fundamental message that must reach everyone in a similar situation: you are not alone. The main advice Álvarez gives is simple, yet hard to follow: speak up. Do not keep it inside, do not let the aggressor corner you or cut you off from the world, because that is their main goal.
