Belfast, Co. Down -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/14/2010 -- It hasn’t always been a piece of cake for Belfast business woman Julie Collins. Now the owner of Survival Solutions, Julie suffered severe stress and medical problems due to a demanding and life-absorbing career. Difficult occupational circumstances that she encountered inspired Julie to start up Survival Solutions.This pioneering company aims to review and take away the stress of internal operations, allowing businesses to prosper despite the difficult economic climate.

Julie’s career began at the age of 23. She immediately immersed herself in her work, progressing very quickly to senior management level in a multi-million pound company, whilst doing a part-time degree in business at the University of Ulster in Jordanstown.As a director of the company, Julie found herself working around 70 hours a week; holidays were unheard of, with calls and emails being answered on Christmas and New Year’s day. Looking back, it is now obvious to Julie that her work life balance was completely disproportionate.

Julie recalls a particularly challenging incident, which began a downward spiral into ill-health: “I was asked to be an independent investigator for a harassment case, and had to take several weeks away from my regular position to interview the accused.The allegations made by the victim were so shocking I was unable to read them aloud, and had to request that I was assisted by a colleague.The investigation gave me the reputation amongst the rest of the staff as an emotionless machine that would decide the fate of the defendants.All the while my original work still needed to be done and managed.”

Following this incident Julie began to notice recurring muscle spasms and extreme lethargy. Reluctant though she was to seek medical attention and put her job on hold, Julie was referred to a specialist who diagnosed her with fibromyalgia - a stress-induced condition affecting the bodyís muscular systems and making even everyday pains unbearable. Because of her passion for the company, Julie initially persevered with her condition, despite the fact that doctors warned her that if she continued to work as she was, she would have a heart attack by the age of 40.

It was only when Julie lost her sight that she understood the severity of the situation; she was working too many hours and focusing all of her energy on the business rather than her health. She was assured by an eye specialist that the loss of her eye-sight was only temporary and was due to an ocular migraine, once again, caused by stress.

At this point Julie re-evaluated her life, and chose a new path: health and survival, and began to research how to cope with the symptoms of her fibromyalgia.This was focused primarily on foods, and cutting out those that were processed and fatty and alcohol.

Taking time out to recover from her illness, Julie returned to her position as director at what was the beginning of the recession. She was given the task of reviewing outgoings, the large majority of which were salaries and wages. Not wanting to once again be the victor resulting in the loss of others from the company, Julie placed her own position as one of those up for review. As operations manager some years earlier, Julie was aware that she had put the necessary mechanisms in place allowing for the smooth and efficient running of the company without her supervision.

Julie discussed her review strategy with the company accountant, his immediate response was “you have put so many effective processes in place here, you could do this for other companies and help them”. This planted the seeds in Julie’s mind, and Survival Solutions was born. To this day, Julie has been responsible for the survival of many companies, assisting them with their internal organisation, finding ways to cut costs and save time.

At the age of 42, Julie now regards herself as ‘mentally wealthy’, doing something that she loves, and has been symptom-free from her fibromyalgia for several years. She takes time out to help people on a voluntary basis including building houses in the Shankhill area of Belfast with Habitat for Humanity, working as a mentor for the Prince’s Trust and Young Enterprise, and feeding stray cats and hedgehogs. Julie has also reignited her love of travelling and tries to take at least two vacations a year, and will soon be jetting off to Borneo.