Nollywood veteran actress Ayo Adesanya has bravely opened up about the harrowing decade she spent enduring domestic abuse at the hands of her ex-husband. In an emotional interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, the actress recounted her painful journey, revealing how the relentless abuse drove her into depression and led her to alcohol as a means of escape. For ten long years, Adesanya was trapped in a cycle of violence and emotional distress. While there were fleeting moments of laughter and happiness, they were overshadowed by the persistent physical and emotional abuse she suffered. “It was something I was involved in for ten good years. It was up and down. We had moments when we laughed, though, but it wasn’t all that. The beating was there, the domestic violence was there, it wasn’t going away. For ten good years, it wasn’t going anywhere,” she shared. Her candid revelation highlights the silent suffering many victims endure, often holding onto fleeting good moments in the hope that things will change. But for Adesanya, the violence was a constant presence, one that ultimately took a severe toll on her mental and emotional well-being. The prolonged abuse led the actress into a deep state of depression, though she did not recognize it at the time. Feeling isolated and overwhelmed, she found an escape in alcohol, gradually spiraling into alcoholism in a desperate attempt to numb the pain. “I was so depressed. I didn’t know it was depression; I started drinking. I would just sneak out, go and buy a bottle of brandy for real, for real go to a corner and drink. I just wanted to be numb. I would drink like a whole bottle. I was a drunk, forget it,” she confessed. For Adesanya, drinking was more than just a habit; it became a coping mechanism to dull the agony of her reality. She described how she would secretly purchase alcohol from a local chemist in Surulere, sneaking it home to consume in private. “There used to be a chemist where we stayed at Surulere. So I would just go and buy the bottle, hide it, bring it home, and drink. I became an alcoholic. It was just God. I became something else. I didn’t want to feel the pain from any beating from my ex,” she said. Adesanya’s journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Despite enduring years of suffering, she has emerged stronger, using her experience to raise awareness about domestic violence and the mental health struggles that often accompany it. Her story serves as a powerful reminder that victims of abuse are not alone and that there is always a path to healing and recovery. Today, the actress stands as a beacon of hope, urging others in similar situations to seek help and break free from the cycle of abuse. Her courage in speaking out sheds light on the silent battles many women face and emphasizes the importance of mental health awareness and support for survivors of domestic violence. For those experiencing domestic abuse, Adesanya’s story is a call to action, an encouragement to seek help, speak out, and reclaim their lives. With support systems and resources available, no one has to endure such pain alone.