That’s true. We have to be our own best defense. Being unable to protect ourselves with words like others do makes us feel like sitting ducks. I realize that males have different vulnerabilities and expectations than females. Anything that we can do to make ourselves feel more protected without words is helpful. Just knowing martial arts or any kind of physical self defense is empowering even when it never comes to physicality. There will always be bullies and even fluent people deal with them. Words, alone, don’t stop bullies anyway but having them does make us feels better. We all have to grow non verbal thicker skins and emotional support strengthens us to do this. Understanding ourselves and our vulnerabilities allows us to build internal shields and professional emotional help is important. We need to feel internally strong even without being able use words …as hard as that sounds.