Love Bombing & Oxytocin Addiction

Love bombing is a term widely used within the context of a romantic relationship. It’s essentially a form of manipulation that attempts to artificially create intimacy. When someone love bombs you, it means they lavish you with intense affection, attention, and praise in an attempt to win your trust and affection early in the relationship….

When Love Hurts: What To Do When You Can’t Get Out

When you first fall in love with someone, it can feel like nothing can go wrong. The butterflies in your stomach, the giddy feeling whenever they call or text you. You’re head over heels and can’t wait to see them again. We all hope that the person we’re dating isn’t dangerous or an abuser, but…

Surviving Trauma from Sexual Violence

When you’ve been sexually assaulted, it feels as though your world has been turned upside down. Everything you know and believe has been shattered. The person who violated your body and mind now occupies a space inside your head that you can never get rid of. You try to push the memories away, but they…

Responsible Community Response

In August 2012, I published a post on my former O. M. Grey blog, “Caught in the Cogs,” that outlines how to respond to an accusation of sexual violence so as not to further traumatize the victim. It contains examples of what to say and what not to say. The things I wrote and experienced…

Textbook Abuse

The trial between Amber Heard and Johnny Depp has been difficult to watch, as I suspect it has been for all survivors of male violence. In fact, some male friends that are survivors of domestic violence with women perpetrators are finding it difficult to watch, too. They see their abuser in Amber and women see…

Cop Shows & Police Brutality Bonds

Lately I’ve been watching Lucifer. Before that, I’ve enjoyed shows like Bones, Dexter, The X Files, Marcella, and Wallander. Law and Order has been running for as long as I can remember, must be at least 20 years now! We hear Trump call for Law and Order over and over again, while sowing the seeds…

Poignant Psychosis in the Psycho Prequel

I wrote on this topic, complete with a series summary, on my newly revived LiveJournal account, if you’d like to be friends there. The post is long and rambling, but it’s more thorough than this one. SPOILERS: Bates MotelTW: sexual and domestic violence, suicide, murder, mental illness Today is Day 50 of Quarantine for me….

Resurrecting Avalon Revamped

“Every once in a while I get the opportunity to read a piece of work that makes me think, ‘This is the one the will put this author on the map of the reading world.’ Avalon Revamped is that book for O. M. Grey. It deals with some horrific truths and should be read by…

Of Course, #MeToo

The past few months have been many things. Inspiring. Validating. Triggering. Infuriating. Gratifying. Of course, I’m talking about the growing #MeToo and #TimesUp movements. At long, long last, survivors of sexual violence, abuse, and assault in all its forms are not only being heard, they’re being believed. Although I’ve been moved to write about this many…

Frat Loses Charter for Promoting Rape

…that’s the least that should happen… Excerpt: The Texas Tech chapter of the international fraternity Phi Delta Theta is being stripped of its charter following controversy over a party last month that included a banner reading “No Means Yes, Yes Means Anal.” Read the entire article…