I Was Groomed as a Teen by a Christian Man

This video is about how I was groomed as a teen by a Christian man in my homeschool community. I share how it started, how the process was interrupted, and the aftermath of the experience.

CW: grooming, SA, DV, emotional & psychological abuse

[Content mentioned]
“7 red flags that you're being groomed — how to spot the difference between a well-meaning adult and a predator” by Ashley Laderer: https://www.insider.com/guides/health...
“What is EMDR?” by the EMDR Institute: https://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/

[Timestamps]
00:00 - Intro & grooming definition
03:03 - I was naive and vulnerable
05:37 - An in-person conversation
08:04 - Long, intimate emails
12:50 - Secret phone calls
17:31 - His wife finds out [CW: emotional abuse]
26:15 - Weird dynamics & feelings confused
32:29 - Finding the emails as an adult
34:30 - Therapy & realizing it's not my fault

[Background Music]
Title: Small Emotions
https://www.hooksounds.com

Image description: Elly, who is white with brown eyes, is sitting in front of a desk as they talk to the camera. Their short brown hair is in a pony tail, and they are wearing a pink sweatshirt. In the background there is a string of lights, a green plant with small bisexual and genderqueer flags, and a vase of flowers on the desk.