"once you said,

i love you.

then you slapped me,

you punched me,

you shouted at me,

you called me bitch.

you said,

i want to kill you.

i cried.

what is love?

i asked."

Play Video

short trailer: do you love yourself?

written and performed by Loredana Denicola

Do you love yourself? is a 9-minute video monologue that forms part of the love, sex and relationships video and photographic documentation project.

I wrote this piece during a romantic relationship with my ex-boyfriend that became emotionally and psychologically abusive. It was born out of confusion, despair, anxiety, and the deep sense of helplessness I felt. My mind was full of questions without answers.

This monologue explores how we construct our perception of reality, often unconsciously creating false illusions that lead to unnecessary suffering and emotional pain. Many of us are unaware of the psychological and emotional frameworks we've inherited or built - especially those shaped by trauma, dysfunctional family dynamics, or growing up feeling unloved.

We long for love, but often in ways that lead to emotional dependency.

Healing begins with self-awareness. It begins by learning to love and respect ourselves.

Themes explored:

Emotional abuse and healing
Self-love and personal growth
Psychological dependency
Childhood trauma and false beliefs
Mental health and self-awareness
Empowerment through storytelling and art

Photographs have power. Stories have power.

Special thanks to Riccardo Sai for his assistance with video production (https://www.mistersai.uk) and to Luca Previtali for the exceptional video editing (https://www.lucaprevitali.com).