I strongly suggest getting into weight lifting. There is a growing body of evidence that it helps your brain repair itself. My personal experience is that I'm much smarter after I started lifting than before. As a bonus, people are less inclined to fight you.
I've also got repetitive strain injury in my wrists and fingers, and I finally started going to the gym recently to try to help with that. I haven't found cognitive improvement, but it's pretty much fixed the RSI in a quite counter-intuitive way. I hadn't heard of the effects on the brain - hopefully it helps me with that as well.
I haven't been going long enough for any physical deterrent effect, but hopefully that will come in time. I'm not (rationally) concerned about my physical safety, as the vast majority of the bullies did not get the grades required to stay for A levels and I've got a good group of friends around me.
My personal suspicion, not based on anything scientific, is that the strenuousness of the lifting needs to hit some non-trivial level before your brain (and body) starts to adapt.
I don't know what your routine looks like right now, but if you are looking for a place to start, I highly recommend Jeff Nippard's youtube channel. He has really good advice on routines etc.
I haven't been going long enough for any physical deterrent effect, but hopefully that will come in time. I'm not (rationally) concerned about my physical safety, as the vast majority of the bullies did not get the grades required to stay for A levels and I've got a good group of friends around me.
Thank you!