Today, I’d like to share the journey that led me from developing an illness at the age of 24 to leaving my corporate job and starting my own business at 38.

Working for a company became difficult, but I still wanted to stay connected to society.

I wanted to find a way to work without pushing myself too hard, in a way that matched my health.

I’m still only at the beginning of this journey myself.

I think that searching for a way of working that suits us can also be described as creating a way of life that suits us.

When you become ill, the illness itself can be difficult enough. But being unable to work can also make you lose confidence or feel anxious about your financial future.

And sometimes, that anxiety may lead us to push ourselves too hard, only to make our health even worse.

What if each of us could find a way to work that fits our own health and circumstances, without pushing ourselves beyond our limits?

In my case, I was fortunate to have a good company and wonderful people around me. If I hadn’t become ill, I think I would probably still be working for the same company today.

But circumstances happened to make it difficult for me to continue working there, and I ended up leaving my job and taking on the challenge of starting my own business.

Maybe this experience could be useful to someone else, too…?

I’m not sure how helpful it will be, but while the memories are still fresh, I’d like to整理 and write down how I got here.

Developing an Illness, Taking Two Medical Leaves, and Eventually Leaving My Job

In my early twenties, when I was using a lot of chemicals for university research and at work, I developed pustulosis palmaris et plantaris (PPP).

My symptoms continued to worsen, and for some time, I went from one hospital to another searching for answers and treatment.

In my late twenties, I was transferred to a department where I didn’t have to handle chemicals directly.

While continuing medical treatment, I also began rethinking what I ate, what I wore, and the environment I lived in. Little by little, my symptoms began to improve.

By my early thirties, my skin symptoms had improved considerably.

However, I began to struggle with chronic headaches and fatigue instead.

Then, in 2019, I was diagnosed with multiple chemical sensitivity. I was 33 at the time.

As I entered my thirties, I gradually found it harder and harder to push through difficult days. After struggling with health problems that just wouldn’t go away, I was physically and mentally exhausted.

I finally gathered the courage to tell my company that I needed to take a medical leave, and they allowed me to take some time off.

During that first year and a half away from work, I was trying to improve my health from the ground up when I discovered natural therapies.

I remember thinking, “This is what I’ve been looking for!”

I became completely absorbed in learning about them and putting what I learned into practice.

Thankfully, my health improved considerably, and I eventually returned to work.

However, once I started working again, my health gradually began to deteriorate once more.

I managed to keep going for two years, but eventually, I developed severe heart palpitations that wouldn’t stop.

Even while I was sleeping, my heart would be pounding. I’d dream that I was running a marathon, then wake up and go to work in the morning. 😂

At first, I thought something was wrong with my heart, so I had it checked at the hospital, but nothing abnormal was found.

Thyroid hormone problems were also suspected, but those tests came back normal as well.

The doctor suggested that the palpitations might be related to psychological factors and recommended that I see a psychosomatic medicine specialist.

I was diagnosed with an adjustment disorder, although I wasn’t entirely convinced.

Still, I knew I had to do something about the palpitations, so I took another medical leave.

The second time, I felt that my recovery was slower than during my first leave.

Was it my age? Or had the damage accumulated over the years…?

Even so, not having the burden of commuting and working allowed me to give both my body and mind a chance to rest.

As I had more room to breathe emotionally, the palpitations gradually began to improve.

“Maybe the palpitations really were related to my mental state after all…?”

The effect our minds can have on our bodies may be greater than we realize.

Little by little, I became more interested in the way our mindset affects our physical condition.

By the summer of 2024, I had been on my second medical leave for a year and a half.

My heart wavered right up until the very end, but I eventually decided that, given my health at the time, commuting and working full-time would be too difficult.

I made the decision to leave the company I had worked for for 12 years.

I remain deeply grateful to the company for showing me the greatest possible understanding of my health and supporting me throughout that time.

I’m also incredibly grateful to my supervisor, who continued to encourage me with kind words while I was working there, during my medical leave, and even after I left.

Leaving My Corporate Job and Starting My Own Business: Starting from Zero

In the spring of 2025, the year after I left my job, I registered as a sole proprietor.

Drawing on my own experiences, I began providing services such as writing articles for people struggling with physical or mental health issues, as well as online consultations and courses.

It really was a start from zero.

I had no idea what I was doing, and I was figuring things out one step at a time as I went.

Then, in 2026, I connected with my first client. That connection led to another through a referral, and little by little, I’ve been gaining experience.

There was a time when I struggled with feelings of helplessness, but I’m truly grateful that I can once again feel connected to society and be of some help to others, even in a small way.

There are still many things I’ve never done before, and sometimes I feel lost or unsure of what to do. But the process of seriously experimenting, learning, and figuring things out day by day has been incredibly fulfilling.

To be honest, my health still has its ups and downs.

Compared with how I used to be, I’m doing so much better, but I’m still not back to 100%.

I get tired easily, and I’m still sensitive to strong smells and traveling by vehicle.

Even so, I’m enjoying this journey of entrepreneurship while connecting with people in a way that doesn’t push me beyond what my body can handle.

I have no idea where this journey will take me, but for now, I think all I can do is do what I can, within the limits of what I can do.

I’d be happy if you would continue to watch this journey unfold with warmth and encouragement!

Thank you, as always, for reading. 😊

🍀Questions or comments? Feel free to contact me here. 🍀