Blog
Echo Chambers and Asshole Abuse: Reclaiming the Narrative on Relational Harm
In a world captivated by buzzwords like “narcissistic abuse,” it’s easy to oversimplify complex relational dynamics into tidy narratives of villain and victim. But what happens when the creator of an echo chamber becomes trapped by their own narrative? Or when reactive abuse morphs into a pattern that shapes someone’s character? This article dives into the nuanced realities of relational harm, challenges the stigmatization of personality disorders, and even offers some cheeky alternatives to rigid pop psychology terms. Because sometimes, a little honesty (and a few curse words) is exactly what we need to reclaim the narrative.
Love: A Journey Inward and Outward
Love isn’t always easy to let in. For some, it feels like sunlight filtering through a window—effortless and warm. For others, it’s a slow, cautious process, shaped by past wounds and the fear of being vulnerable. But love, in its truest form, is transformative. It challenges us to trust, to embrace imperfections, and to see ourselves in new ways. This is a reflection on what it means to open your heart to love—not as an abstract idea, but as a journey inward and outward, toward connection and self-discovery.
I’m Not a Regular Trauma Bond. I’m a Cool Trauma Bond.
Would I trade the trauma bond I formed with her for the regular bond we might have had if things had been different? It’s a question I keep coming back to. Trauma bonds are messy and painful, but they force you to confront yourself in ways a regular connection often doesn’t. If I had moved to Atlanta in 2022 instead of North Carolina, the stalking wouldn’t have happened, and we might have formed a healthier, more stable bond. But without the rupture of the trauma bond, would Autism or personality disorders have ever crossed our minds? Would we have been forced to confront the unhealed wounds we carried?
This post explores the complexities of trauma bonds, the growth they can catalyze, and the systemic gaps in care that leave individuals like us navigating these revelations through crisis rather than support.