How do i get over workplace bullying?

[user8199100]

When I returned to work just over 4 years ago after a long term sickness I was subjected to bullying by some of my colleagues. I never reported it as I didn't think anyone would believe me.
Since then most of them have left and I have a new manager but I still find myself distancing myself from them.
I feel that I work well with them but I find myself distancing myself. I won't attend social events ad I don't contribute to collections and now I'm worried I come across as standoffish but at the same time I don't want to get hurt again.

I do the same. It’s self preservation

OP, I think it’s a natural and sensible reaction. You are protecting yourself.
Don’t worry about this. You can be completely civil but not engage further than that with those colleagues. I would be the same.

I was bullied by a senior person that I worked with. She was then seconded to an adjacent department and I didn't have to work with her any more and my Sunday nights went from a feeling of dread to one of anticipation. I became more confident and thus much better at my job. Then several years later I was asked to work with someone with the same name on a project and actually had the confidence to tell my line manager (who was fairly new and had not been in the department when the bully worked there) that I was sorry but I refused to work with that person again. Luckily it turned out to be a different person, but I don't regret standing up for myself and I believe that it actually gained me some respect from my line manager, as I have never been somebody who complained about my work or refused to do things.

I avoided her as much as possible without making it too obvious, and was polite and professional when I had to contact her or answer a query from her (thankfully both very seldom), but I refused to allow her to poison my work environment or sap my confidence any more. I'm not one for workplace socialising anyway (autism) but I certainly would not have attended anything with which she was involved.