The Wake-Up Call: Finding Balance Through Metal Toxicity and the Journey to Wellness

For those who struggle in silence, may this story help you find your own path to healing.

Wellness isn’t always as simple as eating right, staying active, and keeping your body moving. Sometimes, even for those of us who’ve dedicated our lives to movement and health, life can take an unexpected turn.

I’ve spent years as a coach, a digital product specialist in advertising, and an NLP practitioner. I’ve taught ballet, swam through waves at Maroubra, danced, and moved through life with energy and purpose. And then one day, my body betrayed me.

When Movement Becomes Impossible

I started noticing subtle changes at first: energy dips, minor aches, fatigue that wouldn’t go away. But soon, simple tasks became impossible. Walking a mile felt like climbing a mountain. My body, once my ally, became a stranger.

The moment that truly broke me was realizing I couldn’t run anymore. Running had always been my reset button—a way to release stress, reset my mind, and feel strong. But fatigue ran bone-deep. My shoulders ached constantly, my body refused to cooperate. Even a luxury holiday in Tahiti, which I had just won with my advertising team, couldn’t lift me. Walking to the water felt like scaling Everest.

And yet, in the chaos, there were silver linings. My new boyfriend’s parents had a tennis court—something I could have felt pressured to enjoy—but I didn’t. Honestly? I never liked tennis. Ballet, waves, running—that’s my rhythm. Life sometimes has a way of giving perspective through unexpected humor.

The Endless Search for Answers

Months of doctors, specialists, and tests followed. Blood tests, hair tests, eye exams, live blood tests that looked like alien constellations, scans, physios, massage therapists, naturopaths—you name it. And still… nothing.

You start doubting yourself. Is it all in my head? Are these aches and fatigue real? Every doctor seems to shrug or suggest stress, anxiety, or imagination. And while you argue politely, frustration mounts, and the edges of sanity fray.

Every referral takes months, waiting rooms blur together, and every test result brings more questions than answers. Slowly, desperation settles in.

Until a friend recommended a doctor—someone who truly saw me. Every obscure, borderline-mad test was conducted. And finally: a diagnosis. Metal toxicity poisoning.

Relief hit me like a tidal wave. Someone finally saw that I wasn’t imagining it. My body wasn’t betraying me—I had a name for what was happening. And even though the road ahead was long, at least there was a path forward.

A Diagnosis, But No Roadmap

Hearing “metal poisoning” made me laugh nervously. My toxicity levels were off the charts. Chelation therapy, the standard treatment, was too dangerous for me—I was too sick. So I embarked on my own detox journey: juicing, fasting, raw food diets, sauna therapy, supplements. Some helped, many didn’t. At my lowest, I weighed just 40 kilos, struggling to walk and talk, wondering if I would ever feel well again.

For someone who had thrived on movement, this immobility was a cruel shock. Maroubra, Sydney’s version of Hawaii, tests courage with waves that crush and challenge. And suddenly, the body that once danced, ran, swam, and leapt was fragile. Walking without support felt like being trapped in someone else’s skin.

But in the chaos of chasing cures, I learned something profound: wellness isn’t about perfection. It’s not about doing more. It’s about balance—mental, physical, and spiritual—and finding what truly works for you.

Finding Balance

And yes, just to clarify—I didn’t miss tennis. Life sometimes forces you to slow down, and sometimes, that’s the universe’s way of giving you a laugh and a little perspective.

Here’s the lesson I want to leave you with: in our pursuit of perfection, we often lose sight of balance. Wellness isn’t about ticking all the boxes or doing the most. It’s about doing what actually works for you.

A Reflective Moment

Take a moment with me. Inhale slowly… hold… exhale.

Imagine standing at a crossroads. One path is cluttered with endless checklists—diets, detoxes, rules. The other path is quieter, softer, and balanced. Which feels lighter in your body? Which feels like freedom?

As you breathe, let your mind drift toward the path that gives you space to heal. Imagine your body—the one that dances, runs, walks, or swims—moving freely again.

Tomorrow, I’ll share the next chapter of my journey—the extremes I pushed my body through, and how “doing everything right” almost cost me everything. Until then, remember: balance is the foundation of wellness.

Mindfully yours,
Julie