Sunrise photo taken by Commander John Bortniak, NOAA Corps (ret.).

Welcome to Still Rising

My name is Brynne.  I am a survivor of childhood abuse.  This site is inspired by the poem “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou.  A friend of mine gave me a copy of the poem when I was in the beginning stages of my healing.  During my down days, I read “Still I Rise” and it brings me to tears and reminds me that I can still have the power to find the forces within myself and through others to fight the despair and shame that brings me down to my knees.

The purpose of this site is to be a gateway of information for survivors.   Here you will find links to articles, websites, and chats covering the many aspects of abuse and its aftereffects.   I hope that this site will help you find a place of comfort for you while you are embarking on your healing journey, or helping someone else in his or her own healing journey.

 

If you are under the age of 18, please click here for hotlines and websites equipped for young survivors.


If you are being abused or feeling suicidal, or know someone who is, click here for hotlines. You can also check out these following sites:




Still I Rise

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
‘Cause I laugh like I got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes, 
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.
~ Maya Angelou

 

What's Inside:

 

Current fundraisers for RAINN and other Abuse Prevention sites:

A Sorta Fundraiser via All These Years - This fundraiser is Tori Amos and RAINN-related.  Featured products include notecards, mugs, shirts, and so forth.  The featured artist is Pauline Stuckey, who created the drawings for Tori's Bee Sides songbook.

To find out how to help go to http://www.missingkids.com/

 

Holli's Triumph Over Tragedy - Mint Green Ribbon, Inc.
Holli's Triumph Over Tragedy - Mint Green Ribbon Campaign for the Awareness of Abuse
Stop the Abuse NOW!!



The Candlelight Vigil for Awareness about Violence against Women sponsored by the Canadian Women's Internet Association

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Click here and visit HealthyPlace.com's mental health communities!

Click on the above graphic and visit the very supportive mental health communities of HealthyPlace.com
 

I Am A Proud Member Of:
 The Official Phenomenal Women Of The Web Seal
 Phenomenal Women Of The Web

 PWOTW Remembrance of September 11, 2001 Seal This survival seal is courtesy of the PWOTW Goodwill Seals

The Official Seal Of The Phenomenal Women Of The Web - Against Domestic Violence
 
 

If you have any comments or questions about this site, please email me at stillrising@lycos.com

You are valued guests at my site. I am honored that you have visited. Thank you in advance for signing my guestbook.
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Disclaimer: I am not a counselor, therapist, nor an expert in the field of childhood abuse, trauma or in psychology in general. I am merely an abuse survivor who searched madly on the internet to make things a bit easier for me to understand and cope with.

While online support through message boards, chats, email lists and so forth are very helpful with not feeling alone in the healling process, I highly recommend finding the support of an offline therapist or support group as you continue your healing journey.
Copyright ©2000, by Brynne.

Sunrise photo taken by Commander John Bortniak, NOAA Corps (ret.). Other photos of beautiful sunrises, sunsets, and nature scenes can be found at the NOAA Photo Library.

This site was last updated 1/18/03