“Sexual abuse refers to any behavior that pressures or coerces someone to do something sexually that they do not want to do. It can also refer to behavior that impacts a person’s ability control their sexual activity or the circumstances in which sexual activity takes place, including oral sex, rape or controlling reproductive methods and choices” Sexual abuse “can look like unwanted kissing or touching, unwanted rough or violent sexual activity, refusing to use condoms or restricting...

Approximately 24 million people in the United States suffer from an eating disorder, according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders.  It is estimated that 10-20% of female college students struggle with diagnosable eating disorders. Eating disorders are among the deadliest mental illnesses, second only to opioid addiction, resulting in over 10,000 deaths each year. While many individuals keep their eating struggles hidden, the numbers of these disorders...

In today's episode, we are going where no one goes. We are hearing from a female about her early exposure to porngraphy as an innocent, curious girl.  Did you have a natural curiosity about sex that led you down a path to porn? Did it become a compulsion and eventually an addiction that shaped your view of sex and relationships? Unfortunately, many of the teens and young adults we speak with answer these questions with an anonymous "yes." How does porn really impact young people? What...

Do you remember your first crush? The rush of excitement when your friend told you your crush was also interested in you? The dizzying blur of getting ready for the first gathering where you will hang out? And then the opportunity presents itself to be alone, together.  This was the experience of Hope, today’s guest, when she was just 15-years-old! And as soon as she and her crush were alone, the innocent fairytale ended. Hope, like too many young people their first foray into hooking up or...

Are drinking and college synonymous? Can you name a movie with college students where alcohol and partying are not pictured? Let us know when you find one!  While culture promotes the college drinking lifestyle, what do students really think about it? Does it help you find friends? Date with the best intentions? Ease social anxiety?  For many young people heading off to college, anxiety becomes more pronounced and may reach new levels away from home and all that is familiar. Becoming part...

What happens when trauma is not addressed and healed in a family? Often, untreated wounds and patterns of dysfunction, consciously or unconsciously, are repeated and carried forth within families as “intergenerational trauma.”  While the concept of Intergenerational trauma may be a new idea to some, others live it firsthand.  We learn much more from our forebears than language and favorite family recipes. We learn and experience imprinted paradigms for communication, relationship...

Would you be able to spot the signs of a person with Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD)? What does dating a sociopath (someone with ASPD) look like?  ASPD is a serious mental health condition characterized by a pattern of deceit. These individuals use their intelligence and charm to manipulate and exploit people and partners. While statistics report that only 1-4% of the population is diagnosed with ASPD, it appears that these numbers are higher. The reported numbers are lower because...

For some parents and grandparents today, their high school relationships were “sweet” and innocent. While this was not the case for everyone in previous generations, today, the dating landscape has dramatically shifted. In current culture, many girls' ideas of relationships are informed by rom-coms at a time while their male counterparts are watching porn. Relationship and sexual expectations couldn’t be further apart. If you listen to pop culture’s take on pornography you will hear, “Porn...

What messages are we getting about sexual hookups from a male POV? “It’s just part of the college experience.”  Or, “it’s no big deal.”  Culture, including songs and media, glorifies and normalizes hookups. Parents may say, “just don’t do it.”  But…when it seems like everyone else is going for it, we may say to ourselves “why not?”  Are the gendered ideas about hookups still relevant?  Today’s 7 On Sundays guests, John and Dave (chosen pseudonyms), are both freshmen from different parts of...

How does a young woman get trafficked by her boyfriend? Most people think it could never happen to them. In today’s 7 On Sundays Podcast episode, Linsey shares her story of gradual and escalating grooming at the hand's her boyfriend, who then became her husband and eventually, her trafficker. This story shares how isolation, secrecy, shame, and fear kept Linsey from leaving. She lost all independence and outside support. Linsey shares the complicated nature of these relationships, especially...

How do women really feel about their vaginas(vulvas)? A pornified culture says “vaginas” (correct term is “vulvas”), need to look a certain way to not evoke mockery and shame. Whether girls watch porn or not, today they know exactly what their vulvas “should” look like.  No surprise it is almost never “porn perfect”.  What happens psychologically when your vulva is something you view with disgust? How does it hurt your self image? Your self esteem?  How does it change what intimacy looks...

What are the messages we get about our weight? Family, parents, peers, doctors, social media, and partners -they all have something to say about the idealized picture of both male and female bodies. Culture now promotes uber thin bodies (from glycemic control medications for diabetes). As our guest Ruby shares, social media platforms actually teach young followers "how to" self harm (cutting) and "how to" become anorexic. Parents unknowingly, comment on weight and eating patterns of growing...

What's happening socially in institutions of higher learning? Culture says that college is the time of your life when you'll meet your best friends and future spouse! Parents and others reiterate this as teens venture out to college.  But what about when it's not? Sometimes, after all the angst and anticipation, we get to college and realize, "It just isn't what I thought it would be!" It's a WTF moment. Our guests wonder, "Did I make a mistake?" "How can I feel so alone when surrounded by...

What's happening in hookup culture today?  Pop culture often portrays having sex with your Tinder date as empowering. Many young people don't question this but feel empty and used from the experience. Often, sexual and cultural nonchalance clashes with the human desire to be wanted, cherished, held, and seen. This creates a disconnect. Like our guest, Joy, individuals may compromise themselves by rationalizing, "If I have sex, at least I might get the aftercare (defined as hugs/affection)." ...