Inside D'Arena

Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is a disease that affects a person's brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medication. 

Drug addiction can start with experimental use of a recreational drug in social situations, and, for some people, the drug use becomes more frequent. At first, you may choose to take a drug because you like the way it makes you feel. You may think you can control how much and how often you use it. But over time, drugs change how your brain works. These physical changes can last a long time. They make you lose control and can lead to damaging behaviors.  

For someone who has battled addiction, talking to a family member or loved one about the addiction can be difficult and emotionally draining, contrary to a tragic misconception, people with drug or alcohol addictions do not lack morals. People with addiction are not weak, and they do not lack willpower. Addiction is a disease, but it is one that people can and do recover from.  The burden of drug abuse is becoming a public health concern in Nigeria. Reports show that 14.4% of Nigerians are currently engaged in drug abuse and 1 in every 10 drug users are women. This shows that there's an urgent need to combat the rising abuse of drugs, especially among youths. The effect of drug abuse is bad and should be discouraged at any opportunity. 

THE "ROAD TO RECOVERY" EPISODE featuring a young lady who became an adherent drug user after being cheated on by her fiancée who impregnated her best friend after she lost her pregnancy. The episode also highlights her trackback to recovery and being a better person. 

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In the Nigerian society today you're still considered a failure if you are an unmarried woman or a divorcee, unmarried or divorced women in Nigerian society has little or no value, women are made to feel worthless in the community if they find themselves in such positions as they are often seen by society as an unclaimed and degenerating commodity. 

Many Nigerian women’s inordinate fear of divorce stems from the way society unfairly labels female divorcees as promiscuous, rude, or arrogant. There is no end to the uncomplimentary remarks hurled at divorced women, and in some cases, they lose family, friends, and their status in society as they get branded ‘a bad example’ to other women in society.

Although it takes two to tango, it is usually the woman that is flayed for abandoning the marriage. While many women claim they remain in the bad and impossible marriage because of their children, it is the fear of societal backlash and stigmatization that keep them in it, we have to collectively put an end to such stigmatizations. 

Deciding whether you're in a failing marriage that's beyond repair is not a choice that comes easily, when a marriage ends, spouses and their children often face a perfect storm of stressful events, and the best we can do as a society is to respect people's decisions and support them moving forward because there is life after divorce. 

THE "UNBROKEN" EPISODE features Dr. Kaffy Shafau, a living legend popularly known for her huge impact and contribution towards the dance culture in Nigeria, her impact in using dance to improve the lifestyle of so many Nigerians as well as outside the shores of the country. In this episode, She talks about her mental health, her marriage, her divorce, and the challenges through it all.

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At least 2 in 1,000 women experience Vaginismus once in their lifetime and probably many more who may be too afraid or embarrassed to seek medical attention and help. With a 95% chance of treating the condition, it is time to talk about Vaginismus, shatter the isolation, and eliminate the pain.

Vaginismus is a condition involving an involuntary muscle spasm in the pelvic floor muscles, which results in penetration of the vagina is painful, difficult, or even impossible. This can make not only penetrative sex a problem, but also the use of tampons and medical examinations, such as smear tests.

THE "IMPORTANCE OF SPEAKING UP" EPISODE featuring Mrs. TitOluwa Sam Oladapo, a Nigerian woman raising awareness about vaginismus and in the process helping a lot of women around the world.

On this episode, Mrs. TitOluwa Sam Oladapo talks about being sexually abused as a child, her struggle with vaginismus after she got married, and how she was able to overcome it.

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We talk with a lot of people who are able to recognize that their relationship is unhealthy or even abusive, but they also believe that the abuse exists on both ends, or that both partners are at fault for the abuse, survivors of abuse who want to address concerns they have about their behaviors will often express that their relationship is mutually abusive, a concept used when describing a relationship where both partners are abusive towards one another.

But the thing about “mutual abuse” is that it doesn’t exist. Abuse is about an imbalance of power and control. In an unhealthy or abusive relationship, there may be unhealthy behaviors from both/all partners, but in an abusive relationship one person tends to have more control than the other, Yes, victims lash out, call names, punch things, and may even attack their abuser, but that is a reaction.

The "PERFECTLY IMPERFECT: THE RESPONSE" Episode. A response to the previous podcast episode, listen to the previous episode (PERFECTLY IMPERFECT) to get a much better understanding

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The issue of abuse in a relationship is not debatable and should not be encouraged by any party. Individuals are built with atoms of anger but the ability to control one's anger is very important. Getting angry is not an excuse to display any form of abuse in a relationship and should be discouraged at all times.... working on one's anger is very paramount and partners should learn to listen more before acting, which saves a lot of problems. Anger no be chieftaincy title. 

THE "PERFECTLY IMPERFECT" EPISODE reveals the experience of a young man with depression, anger, and his trackback to recovery and being a better man.

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Every child deserves to be loved, guided, and protected by all. Unfortunately, in today’s society child sexual abuse is a vice that is sadly prevalent. Parents, guardians, and caregivers who are charged with the responsibility of protecting children hardly have time for them, which makes the underaged vulnerable to harmful experiences.

Being actively involved in a child’s life can make warning signs of child sexual abuse more obvious and help the child feel more comfortable coming to you if something isn’t right. When a child knows that their voice will be heard and taken seriously, it gives them the courage to speak up when something isn’t right. 

THE "TOO YOUNG TO KNOW" EPISODE features a Woman in her 20's who shared her story about being molested at a very tender age which led to her struggles with anxiety and  addiction among others. 

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THE "CHEATERS" EPISODE Episode which features a woman in her 20's who suffered two different relationships filled with deceit, cheating, emotional abuse, blackmails, and how she was able to pull through and save herself.

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It should never be in our place to judge those women who choose to remain in abusive relationships. But rather, we should try our best to understand the situation that they’re in and help steer them to safety. 

THE "SURVIVING ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP" Episode features a woman in her 20's and her story about surviving two abusive relationships.

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This episode hosted by Mrs. Bolanle Olagbemi Ajiboye a sexual violence and trauma counselor, is titled "FINDING MEANING" and features a woman in her 20's on her journey to finding meaning after a great loss.

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Mrs. Bolanle Olagbemi Ajiboye is a sexual violence trauma counselor at a not for-profit organization. Join us on this episode we take a deep dive into a conversation about mental health.

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