How to live under false accusations

It must be terrible, to be accused of something horrible - while you have done nothing bad at all! How can you live under this stress???

'Thuis' (At Home), the most popular soap in Flanders (daily around 1,3 million viewers) is presenting this problem right now. Swimming coach Jaques is accused of having had inappropriate sex with one of his young swimmers. He loses his job, nobody talks to him, everyone tries to avoid him. Later on, we learn that young Stan has made up these accusations because he doesn't feel well (he also beats his own mother). Now Jaques is offically cleared, but still he is looked at weirdly. Some of the muck still sticks.

It is also true in real life. Some years ago, a primary school teacher was falsely accused. She lost the job she so much liked, lost most of her so-called friends. All these years later, she still can't return to teaching because most heads thinks she has 'a reputation'. She got a new job later on, married and is now mother of a child, but there is something lacking.

I suppose it's very hard to ward of a false accusation. When you're named a pedophile, the name sticks, even when it's not true. Just make the people believe you're not a crook!

In my opinion, people should think twice before they utter an accusation. Think of the life you can possibly destroy. Can you live with that???