A few days before leaving the UK, I looked in the mirror and barely recognized the woman staring back at me. I was drained — sad, anxious, exhausted, and struggling to find even a single thing that brought me joy. Burnout had taken over my life, my kids were unhappy, and each day felt heavier than the last. I moved through my routine like a robot, but inside, I was falling apart.
At my lowest moments, I reached out to the NHS crisis team for support. As expected, I was placed on a waiting list. While trying to hold myself together, I also battled the constant stress of neighbours who repeatedly reported me, making an already overwhelming situation even worse. Emotionally, mentally, and physically, I was drowning.
People have asked why I decided to leave the UK for Nigeria. The truth is simple — I left because I needed to breathe again. During that dark season, I came to understand that relocating to Canada wasn’t the right move for me anymore. Instead, I chose to return home, to a place that felt familiar and grounding, where I could finally receive the support and peace I desperately needed.
Yes, I walked away from comfort, routine, and what many would consider “security.” But I refused to let my life — or my children’s lives — be shaped by constant unhappiness. Coming back home was my way of reclaiming joy, waking up with hope again, and giving my children a home filled with love, laughter, and freedom.
Sometimes, returning to your roots isn’t a step backward. It’s a courageous decision toward healing, clarity, and true happiness.
— Shared by Nkemdilim Melissa Okano on Facebook
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