What Happens When Abuse STOPS For One Year

One year ago, you walked away from the fear, the manipulation, and the constant shrinking of your spirit—and even though freedom didn’t magically erase the pain, you kept choosing yourself every single day. This video explores what really happens when abuse stops for a year: the lingering echoes of their voice in your head, the awkward but beautiful rediscovery of your own, and the slow, imperfect truth of healing. It’s not about forgetting; it’s about remembering who you were before them—and realizing you’re so much more now. So, after a year of surviving without them, who are you becoming?

Credits:
Researcher/Writer: Kelly Soong
Voice Over: @amandasilvera
Animation: Turutangi Studio
Director: Tai Khuong
Youtube Manager: Cindy Cheong
Assisted: Brisky Quach
Thumbnail: Anilezah Lam

Expand your knowledge on this topic:

Herman, J. L. (1992). Trauma and recovery: The aftermath of violence—from domestic abuse to political terror. Basic Books.

Davis, R. C., Taylor, B. G., & Maxwell, C. D. (2002). Does batterer treatment reduce violence? A synthesis of the literature. Women & Criminal Justice, 13(3-4), 79–104. https://doi.org/10.1300/J012v13n03_05

Walker, L. E. (2016). The battered woman syndrome (4th ed.). Springer Publishing Company.