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A safe space for women healing from emotional and verbal abuse.

still waters rise

My name is Rachel, and I’ve been told that I care too much. That I give too much. That I do too much. Not in a tender way, but in a mocking, dismissive tone. The man who promised to love me rolls his eyes at the very parts of me that love the hardest. He calls me obsessed, as though my devotion is a sickness, as though my attention is a flaw.

Rachel’s Story

Still Waters Rise Collective

This is more than a collection of stories.
It’s a growing body of truth written in the voices of women who have lived through emotional abuse, found language for their pain, and are learning to rise.

These words are offered as reflections, reminders, and ripples of hope.
Each story is told in her own way, in her own time. Some are raw. Some are quiet. All are real.

May you find pieces of yourself in these pages.
May you feel less alone.
May you know: healing begins when we stop hiding.

still waters rise collective

Still Waters Rise Collective

He made me feel like I was lucky to be with him. Like I wouldn’t make it on my own. He controlled the money, made all the decisions, and if I disagreed, he’d freeze me out for days. I started doubting my own memory. My own instincts. I stopped sharing my opinions altogether. The hardest part wasn’t leaving—it was realizing that the version of me I’d become wasn’t even mine.

Maya’s Story

At first, he made me feel like I was the most important person in the world. It was intense, exciting, almost like a movie. But slowly, things shifted. He hated when I spent time with friends. Accused me of flirting if I wore certain clothes. And when I tried to talk about how I felt? He’d turn it around—make me feel dramatic or ungrateful. I’m still in it. Or kind of. We’re “on a break.” But I keep thinking: Why do I feel so small when I’m supposed to feel loved?

Daisy’s Story

Stories like this are shared to honor the truth and strength of women who have felt silenced, dismissed, or broken down by emotional abuse. If you’d like to share yours anonymously, click here to begin.

All stories are shared with permission. Names, identifying details, and personal information have been removed or altered to protect the privacy of each contributor.

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© 2025 Still Waters Rise. All Rights Reserved.

Need immediate help?

If you are in danger or need support right now, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org for 24/7 confidential assistance.

You are not alone. You are not to blame. Help is available.