u/Impossible_Smell5392

I’m thinking ahead before getting my SLPA license in California. Right now I work as a Daycare teacher at a family daycare. I make about $22/hr which is typical for ECE, but I’m wondering if there are any jobs/positions that look good for employers for when I start job hunting for SLPA jobs. Something that transitions well to SLPA and hopefully pays better. I have a degree currently but it’s a liberal arts degree. Hasn’t really helped me land any jobs.

Hey, I’m hoping to have a discussion on how religion and church beliefs/ practices leave one psychologically vulnerable. When I was a Christian I remember experiencing episodes of extreme anxiety about spiritual beings, particularly demons. I couldn’t get good sleep for almost a week one time when I was dating my ex, because he had told me a story about how he was haunted by a demon as a kid. I now recognize this as some form of religious anxiety. Christians are taught there are invisible forces at work influencing people and doing harm physiologically or physically. Particularly to believers to try and pull them away from God. It made me feel like I was a target and like I was in constant threat. I used to pray every night in terror till I fell asleep (for that one week). Since walking away I haven’t experienced these things which I’m majorly greatful for. I had never experienced something like that before.

By extension, I know there’s been talk of how “a relationship with God” is similar on the brain psychologically to an abusive relationship. I think Christianity and its teachings really primed me to be subject to abusive relationships myself. Especially as a female in the church. You’re taught to persevere, forgive, and submit.

I’m wondering if anyone else has experienced these things, and am looking to discuss these things on a deeper level.

Thanks!

I don’t have friends anymore so I thought I might post on this subreddit.

Hi, I’m 28F and from Spring 2023 to December 2024, I attended church. I had basically made it my whole life. My crush went there, and introduced me to the church about a year before. After studying abroad I cam back to the States and felt really lonely. I started going to church with the intention of just trying it out but stayed and became convinced that God had good things for me. That he had reached out for me from beyond the walls of the church and invited me in. I was optimistic and sincere. I attended every sermon, did every class, attended any group I could, and even got a job working at the church.

At the end of my time there I realized how disillusioned I was. My crush had used me for attention only to end up rejecting me, then started dating his best friend around that same time saying “I’m not ready for a relationship”. He also sent me a sexually inappropriate IG reel and later mocked me for being a pushover. I guess for not saying anything about it? I just did the thumbs up emoji because I was kind of shocked.

It’s worth mentioning that before that, I had gone on a camping retreat and my crush’s father had hit on me. He had some of my shorts and sports bras that he wanted to hand me back personally (I went camping with his family, my crush and his sisters). I had told him to just hand them to his daughter to hand to me, but he deflected. He also asked me if i was taking a shower or not. All of this over text. I told the Elders, who did an inquiry, but they never got back to me. I was in a constant state of anxiety for weeks, afraid to run into him. I tracked them down and eventually got their answer which was that “he said it was a misunderstanding”… He was my crushes dad so I went along with it. I was also friends with his sisters. After my crush rejected me it was hard to go to church but i still did.

Then I met another guy and asked him out after months had passed. He told me I was too good for him, and that he wanted to love me like Christ loved the church. A month later he dumps me on my ass, and tells me that he heard I was going around bragging about how intimate we were. I desperately told him no that wasn’t true but he said multiple people told him that. I pressed him and asked what exactly was said. He refused to tell me. I asked him who told him that and he refused to say. I did my best to not cry and he told me he felt used by me. I really liked him. Out of the two of us I was the one asking him for exclusivity. He had actually agreed, but i remember before he did he made me tell him the worst thing I ever did.

I was devastated by the breakup but was also afraid of his accusations so I told him I was going to our pastor to ask them about these rumors. I go to the pastor the next day and lo and behold the pastor says my ex talked to him first. I felt so heartbroken and betrayed. I don’t know if what my ex said had any truth to it or if he made it up, but I was devastated and terrified about what other people might be saying about me. I learned later there was a guys night at his house the evening before he broke up with me. I figure some guys were gossiping about me. Of course I never knew for sure, but the embarrassment, fear, and heartbrokenness kept me away. After that, I quit my job, lost my friends, and lost my faith that I thought was so strong.

About 18 months later I got a slurred text from him saying he missed me and was sorry, but it was sent at midnight. I never responded. I’ve been dealing with deep emotional scars since my time there and I honestly hate still living in the same neighborhood. I went in with so much hope and sincerity and came out beaten and bruised. It was my first relationship. Jo