The Unseen Battle High-Achieving Women Rarely Talk About with Kelly O’brien

Most people rebuild their lives only after things fall apart, but what if your rise begins in silence? In this episode, Kelly O’Brien shares her “quiet rise,” a journey through IVF, endometriosis, a near-death experience, burnout, and the reinvention that followed.

Kelly O’Brien joins me for a deeply moving conversation about what she calls “the quiet rise”. The season where everything looks fine on the outside, but inside, you’re unraveling. From enduring 14 rounds of IVF, stage IV endometriosis, and a near-fatal internal bleed to rebuilding her life, identity, and purpose, Kelly’s story is one of courage, grief, reinvention, and self-trust.

She opens up about navigating high-functioning struggle in corporate life, the hidden emotional toll of infertility, and the moment she realized she needed to redefine her future. We also explore how her lived experience sparked the creation of Elysium Wellness and her passion for accessible, at-home recovery tools like red-light therapy.

This episode is a reminder that resilience isn’t loud  and that sometimes, the rise happens in the quiet.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

• The hidden emotional toll of burnout, IVF, and high-pressure careers
• How a near-death experience reshaped Kelly’s purpose and identity
• Why personalized recovery tools matter for burnout and healing
  
  

CONNECT WITH KELLY O’BRIEN:

• Elysium Wellness (Australia) 
• Connect with Kelly on Instagram & TikTok 
• Learn more about red light therapy and wellness tools via LumaFlex AU

 Special Message from Dr. Tamar Lawful: Discover the InHer Glow® Concierge Wellness Experience , a precision health program designed exclusively for high-achieving women ready to lose weight, boost energy, and reduce medications without guesswork. Spots are limited! Apply today at thelyfebalance.com/concierge

Chapters

• 0:00 Rethinking One-Size-Fits-All Care
• 3:36 Meet The Host And Mission
• 4:32 The Quiet Battles Women Carry
• 7:11 Kelly’s Near-Death IVF Emergency
• 12:18 High-Functioning Struggle At Work
• 15:33 Grief, Triggers, And Support Systems
• 19:13 Creating Elysium From Lived Experience
• 22:06 Red Light Therapy And Recovery
• 25:03 Personalized Healing And Burnout
• 28:04 Backing Yourself And Pivoting In Business
• 31:07 What’s Next For Elysium

Transcript

Speaker 3: 1:58

Medications certainly have their place, but what if there was a way to support your body naturally by working with your genetics?

Speaker 2: 2:06

We are a pill for an ill society. We take 18 pills per person per American per day.

Speaker 3: 2:13

It was so hard to find somebody who took my insurance. And for me to get well, it took thousands of dollars. And I thought, but what do regular people do? This is not right.

Speaker: 2:22

Despite my best efforts, I wasn't actually reversing disease and helping people to heal in the way that I thought I would.

Speaker 3: 2:28

We want to empower yourselves to take care of this root called. We don't just want to cover it up. If you're ready to break free from outdated, one-size-fits-all healthcare, you're in the right place. Welcome to Race this group with Nutrigenomics. Brought to you by InHer Glow® by LYFE Balance. Here's a literature from we're all unique right down to our DNA. So it's no wonder we respond differently to the same medications, food, and environments. How do you discover what your body needs? Which medications, foods, supplements, or exercises are right for you? How can you manage chronic conditions without having one more prescription? That's what we're here to explore. I'm your host, Dr. Tamar Lawful, Doctor of Pharmacy, Nutrigenomics Specialist, and your partner in reimagining how we personalize care for better outcomes. Whether you're a patient or a practitioner, let's raise this grip and bring healthcare to higher levels together. Because the future of health is personal. Sometimes the strongest women you know are the ones carrying the quietest battles. They're the women who lead teams, hold families together, show up with a polished smile, and excel in the spaces where everyone expects them to shine. And yet, behind the scenes, they're juggling fear, grief, exhaustion, and questions with no easy answers. All while the world keeps telling them, You're so strong. But strength has layers. And today's guest knows this better than most. Kelly O'Brien's story doesn't begin with a dramatic collapse. It begins the way many high-achieving women's stories do in the in between. In the early mornings before work, where she'd sit through invasive IVF procedures and then head into the office to lead her team as if nothing happened. In the quiet car rides home, after long corporate days, where she swallowed the weight of stage four endometriosis, loss and uncertainty. In the moments she was celebrated for her poise while silently wondering how much more her body and her heart could take. And then came the moment she didn't expect a routine egg retrieval, a sudden internal bleed, a race to the hospital, a near-death experience that forced everything in her life to stop. Six days in ICU, a body fighting to survive, a mind wrestling with what comes next. A woman realizing she could no longer pretend she was fine. But what makes Kelly's story extraordinary isn't just what she survived. It's what she chose afterward. She chose truth over hiding, recovery over functioning, purpose over perfectionism, and a new chapter that would eventually become the heart of Elysium wellness, a place built for a lived experience to help other women recover, breathe, and rise in their own time. Today, Kelly opens up in a way she rarely has. We talk about invisible struggle, the emotional toll of infertility, how burnout hides in plain sight, and what it truly takes to rebuild a life when the plan you live for disappears. This conversation is for every woman who has ever looked strong on the outside while quietly breaking on the inside. For every woman who's been told she's resilient when she just wanted to rest. And for every woman who's still rising softly, quietly, bravely, let's get into it. Kelly, welcome to Raise the Script Nutrigenomics. I'm honored to have you here.

Speaker 1: 6:19

Thank you so much. I'm so excited to be here and to share my story with you and my and your audience.

Speaker 3: 6:25

You are welcome. Now, you call your story the quiet rise. Before we even jump into your story, what does that phrase mean to you? And you know, when did you realize you were in a season of rising, even if it didn't look or feel like it at the time?

Speaker 1: 6:43

Yeah, I think for me, the quiet rise is just really about my life, my life's journey. Um, understanding that, you know, life sometimes doesn't go to how we plan or what we expected, and that's okay. So just really understanding that, you know, different things have shaped where my life has pivoted to and and changed things. Um, my turning point, I think, was my near-death experience and really understanding and sitting with it and working out what my what my future looked like, um, and understanding that I needed to make changes.

Speaker 3: 7:25

Yes, yes, indeed. And um would you be able to, if you don't mind, are you able to talk a little bit more about your near-death experience?

Speaker 1: 7:33

Yeah, definitely. So to start off, uh just to go back in my journey with my husband, we did IVF for around three years. Uh, we did 14 rounds of IVF. So, in that time, I found out that I had stage four endometriosis. So, within doing IVF and the very evasive process and the journey of that, I also had uh three different surgeries for the endometriosis as well, um, and cysts and things like that, that all women go through or a lot of women go through. So, I know a lot of people can relate to that. Um, but Paul, my husband and I, we were doing it for so long and and it was taking a toll on myself, my body, uh, and he suggested that our 14th round be our last round for a while and just to take a break and and go and live life because anyone that's experienced IBF, you really do put your life on hold. So it it is a very hard process. Uh, so in our 14th round, I um experienced a an episode that, you know, something that I I would not expect, and that was um I came out of out of doing my egg collection, everything was fine, um, but my body just reacted and I started to um internally bleed. So I actually was rushed to hospital. I'd lost 1.8 litres of blood. Uh at that stage, um, we didn't know what it was and what was happening until they did find what was going on. So I was rushed into emergency surgery. Um, and at that stage, we didn't know if I was going to survive that surgery and come out of it. So it was a really hard time for myself, my you know, soon-to-be husband, um, and also my family that at that stage weren't in the same state as Paul and I. So Paul was that that person that was communicating to my friends and family and letting everyone know. Um, so it was a really, really hard time. I just remember being rushed into emergency surgery. Um, and one of the last things that I do remember of that before before I was put into surgery was I started to suffocate because I was drowning in my own blood. So um I woke up after that and I spent six days in ICU. Uh, and then that was that was a real testing time for me personally. Um, as you mentioned previously, I've been in corporate and and led teams and and you know, someone that does that and is quite driven, you're used to having control of everything, right? So to not have control of this situation was really scary. Um, and then came out of ICU and and just had a really big road to recovery. Uh, probably didn't take the time that I needed to recover, to be honest, if if I'm really being honest right now, I think we all just get back into life. Um, I probably didn't take the time that I needed, but I think now I've worked out, you know, when things happen in life, how I need to breathe and take that time for myself and the things that work for me as well, um, and how that helps me to recover in anything that I need to work through.

Speaker 3: 11:07

Oh, so a powerful, powerful story, Kelly. And there's so much to unpack here. I'm like, where do I start? Where do I start? You know, something probably out of order, but you mentioned um working in corporate, you know, corporate is it can be high pressure, and I know you you would let high pressure corporate environments still silently navigating IVF, endometriosis, and burnout. What does high functioning struggle actually feel like from the inside?

Speaker 1: 11:40

It on days it feels like you're I mentioned suffocating before. That's what it feels like. It feels like you're drowning. But I think when you're when you're a professional or you you you know, you you hold yourself to such a high standard, um, I'm very much a perfectionist as well. So I was definitely living a double life. And, you know, I would go and do all of my IVF appointments before work, go through such invasive processes, and then I would go to work and sit there and manage teams and businesses. So um it's really about putting that front on, you know, you you you're literally living that double life. And no matter I I'm someone that has always been able to separate my personal life through my business life. Um, but there were definitely days that, you know, it you feel like you can't, it's it's like you're on a wheel and you just keep going and keep going. And at that stage, I had other women in my teams that were having babies or you know, going through their own processes. So I was trying to be there for them, yet going through my own struggles as well.

Speaker 3: 12:54

And they didn't know. No one knew.

Speaker 1: 12:57

No one knew.

Speaker 3: 12:58

Because to them, no doubt, it's like Kelly's okay. You're okay on the outside, but Kelly, you were falling apart on the inside, and you know, that's something that many women listening today can deeply relate to. Um, and I guess that's part of that hidden season, you know, you're okay on the outside, falling apart on the inside, and for you, nobody knew. And I mean, that speaks that speaks to your strength because you're helping other women who and you're supporting them, they're going through their struggles. Um, but who was supporting you? Your husband was supporting you, of course. And even through that process, um, I think what's powerful with your story is that you didn't just heal, but you started creating something new. You started creating something new, Kelly. Uh, so you and your husband had to face the reality that your story might not include children. Uh how did you navigate that grief and what opened up for you on the other side of it?

Speaker 1: 13:56

Yeah, so I think I think it's something that you never probably truly completely work through, if I'm honest. Um, I think there are little triggers here and there. I remember we got married in April this year, finally, after being engaged for so long, because we we went through the IVF process. And I I remember saying in my vows, um, you know, talking about just how much of a support that Paul was to me. And I remember getting quite emotional, which I didn't think that I would, but it was obviously a trigger for me. So I think that it's something that you really need to understand what triggers you and be mindful and know how to work through that. Um, as you said, Paul is my biggest supporter, and and he he was even just at blood tests and things like that. I've got such a beautiful family, I've got beautiful friends, so I've got such a caring, strong network of people. Uh, I couldn't imagine going through anything that I've been through without that. Um, as much as I was closed off in my work life, my personal life was, you know, I could not be more loved. So I think when I stepped out of it and worked out that um, and and I I do talk about this often, and one of my healing, biggest healing processes was really sitting in the journey and the process of everything and understanding and accepting, I think that yes, I may not be a mother in a traditional sense, but we've got the most incredible nieces and nephews that we are so fortunate to have and we're so close to. Um, you know, we've got a beautiful dog and we have such an amazing life. So to really sit in that and go, okay, well, I may not, it may not be to what we planned, but that's okay. Um, and then I looked at, okay, well, what's next? Uh, and that's where my passion for wellness and wanting to help other people really was born. Um, and that's where wanting to look at um building spaces and creating things for other people to enjoy, we we we have been a little delayed with our buildings um of those spaces, but that's okay because in in our professional life I learned that you know sometimes you have to pivot and adapt. And that's where the other side of our business really has has bloomed and formed and creating um experiences and and really helping people to have things in their life that they can actually take home, such as red light therapy and things like that, and actually have these tools at home, which often wellness, you know. I've been doing wellness as a person, as a consumer for so long. You didn't always have the ability to take something home and use that with you. So um I really love being able to adapt and pivot when it comes to business and things like that. So um, yeah, just really it enjoying throwing myself into this new business venture, I think, has been really important for me as well.

Speaker 3: 17:12

Well, thank you for um explaining that, Kelly. Now you're talking about the build your business, Elysium wellness. Uh, let's talk about Elysium. It's more than a product line, right? It's an it's an intentional space built from lived experience. So, what was the moment you realized this is what I'm meant to build?

Speaker 1: 17:33

I've always loved wellness for probably in the last 10 years. I think when I was really in that corporate world, uh understanding that I needed to look after myself. So I was doing things like saunas, you know, have it getting massages, anything that I felt helped me. Um, and then when I was building Elysium, I really wanted to work out how I could help other people work out what their wellness is. Because I think wellness is different for everyone. And I think everyone needs to understand that it's not just going to a wellness space or a gym or whatever you do, it's it's really what fills your cup, what makes you happy. Uh, and that could be things such as you know, sitting in your the comfort of your own home with a wellness tool that makes you feel good and that helps you. Uh, or it could be going to a thing like a recovery center and enjoying those spaces and having a sauna or being in a in a cold plunge. So that's where it was really important for me to work out how I can look at building a space for that so that is in the works. Um, and and we are looking at getting that space built for people to be able to come to, but then also pivoting and having these products and partnering with incredible companies to offer these products to people, um, which I'm really, really excited about.

Speaker 3: 19:07

Yes, you are doing so many wonderful things with the partnerships that you have. Well, I know one of those partners, someone that I interviewed maybe a year ago, with a red light therapy. Um, yeah, so that's that's that's amazing that you're adding that on. And you know what, in your opinion, why do you think people are craving this type of wellness experience now more than ever?

Speaker 1: 19:33

Life is hard, as as you know, I've experienced in my own journey. But no matter what you're going through, so whether that is work, that's corporate, that's having children, that's just life, life is hard. And we all run at such a high at fast pace at the moment that we really don't take the time for ourselves. Uh, so I think that people are starting to crave that more. And I think that there is more of an education around the importance of looking after yourself. If we if we look at the red light therapy, for me personally, the way that this partnership came about was John and I connected, but I really believe in red light and infrared because it actually personally helped me through my recovery, so internally and externally. So I really 100% am very passionate about red light therapy. At that time, when I was recovering, however, I'd have to go to a space to use that. But now we're so fortunate that we have these incredible devices that we can actually have in our own homes. And whether that you're a professional athlete or you're someone that's suffering from a sore leg or you're wanting beauty or hair growth, you know, there's so many different benefits, especially from red light therapy and infrared. So for me, it was just really important to be able to give those tools to people, because not everyone is fortunate enough to be able to go to the spaces to have those experiences. So, really about creating experiences wherever you are, even if you're in your car, to be honest, you can put the red light therapy device on you and you can drive. If you're at work, um, work's a big one because whether you're in corporate or you're in whatever work profession you're doing, um, we spend most of our lives at work. So ensuring that we're putting things in place within our days to help with our levels of stress, our comfort, and our recovery, whether that be blood flow, circulation, inflammation, things like that. So um putting things into our daily lives every day to help us.

Speaker 3: 21:51

I love that, Kelly, because it's so much more than just resting. It is. It is. Yeah, it's so much more than just resting. We need, and I love that it can be no matter where you are, what you're doing, you should be able to find a way to um, I believe you use the term to just um breathe, to breathe out. Is that what you you say was to breathe, yeah. To breathe, right? So we should be able to do that wherever we are. Um, but then again, uh like especially when it comes to burnout and recovery, um, it is going to be different for everyone. And I love that you you open you have space for that for it to be individualized for the person.

Speaker 1: 22:36

In my opinion, we all need to understand, and this is something that I've learned through my journey as well, is everybody is different, and every healing process, every recovery, every trigger, everything is different for every person. So, although that one thing that I learned is, and I wish I knew before, but um hindsight's a great thing, right? So it's it's understanding what works best for you, or what triggers you, or what tools you need to put in place to help you as a person, because we can have all of these guides and these opinions and all of this information. There is so much information in the world that we can get and can get quite overwhelming, but really putting in the time to understand what works best for you, your body, your mental health, um, your growth. I think that's the biggest thing that that I've learned.

Speaker 3: 23:36

Yeah, definitely. We have to we have to personalize it. We have to personalize our recovery. Definitely. Yeah, and I want to go back to you mentioned um, you know, forming relationships, uh building relationships, and I'm sure you had to make bold decisions and speaking with you. I know you made decisions that aligned with who you are now, and I love that. Uh, what did it take to back yourself, especially when you were starting over?

Speaker 1: 24:06

It was scary. Yeah. Uh so so scary because I had been in corporate for so long and in a role that you know you become so comfortable in. And although it's an intimidating role, and you know, it is a high stressed role, you do become comfortable in what you're doing in life. So for me to make that jump and to really back myself and understand that it's funny when I look at what I thought the business would be or what I thought where I thought I would be today is actually different to where I am today, and it's actually better. And I think until I threw myself into it and was really open to meeting and having conversations and partnering with different things, it's really opened up so much more and having amazing conversations like we're having today and being included in so many great podcasts, and but just meeting so many amazing people, not just in Australia or New Zealand or Pacific Islands, whereas where we're rolling these things out, but across the world. So it's super exciting to think that when I go on my travels, I can actually catch up with yourself or other people, and you've become part of this story and this journey. Um, so I think yeah, it's one thing I've learned is it's not it's not easy. And anyone that goes into business thinking it's going to be easy is a bit blind, I think, I, in my opinion. Um, but you do have to back yourself and be open to it's okay that it's not exactly what you planned out from day one, because that's business, and that's I I think I'm fortunate because I understand how business can change, and if you don't adapt with it, then you may be left behind.

Speaker 3: 26:09

And that's exactly the mindset. All business owners, entrepreneurs need to have the excitation that it's not necessarily going to go the way that you planned. And I don't know, like people like you and me who are a-type personalities, we're perfectionists, it can be difficult to, it's a tough pill to swallow, right? But it's a fact, it's a fact, and we have to be able to pivot, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with doing that. You pivoted, and now you're creating something that people are already connecting with, and that's beautiful, it's amazing. Um, and you mentioned that Elysium wellness is still new, but it's gaining traction quickly, I see. Um, so what's next for the brand? What can people expect as your vision goes?

Speaker 1: 26:55

I for the vision is I would love to get our spaces open. Um, as I said, you know, anyone that's that's worked with buildings and commercial, there are always going to be delays. I was probably a bit naive to think that there wouldn't be. Uh, but to be honest, my focus is really on getting uh LumaFlex especially out to the Australian public and really educating people on that. So we're making just amazing traction. Um, and just educating education is a massive thing when you're doing these things, but also these partnerships and building the brand um and awareness, it's it's just such a a really exciting time for for the business. So um just continuing on with our path and and working, you know, I'm sure many more things are going to come our way, which is and to be open to that as well, not to be closed off and just think that you have to continue on the path that you're going.

Speaker 3: 27:59

Oh, I love that. Yes, you've got to be open, you gotta be open. Oh, I love it. This has been great conversation, Kelly. Before we close, where can listeners learn more? Where can they connect with you and follow Elysium Wellness journey?

Speaker 1: 28:14

Yeah, so we've got our socials. So um, this is Elysium Wellness on uh Instagram, Facebook, but we've also got our Lumiflex AU Instagram as well. Um, we also are on TikTok, but yeah, we're just trying to get all of our content up there because we've we've been quite busy. Uh, but always happy to talk to anyone, answer any questions, um, but definitely follow us, especially with the red light therapy as well. Uh, I kept the Lumiflex quite separate because there is so much information that we can actually get from the global team, which is so helpful to our to our um consumers and and people that want to know more. So that yeah, definitely jump on our websites um and our socials.

Speaker 3: 29:04

Okay, I will add the information to the show notes, Kelly, so that people can reach out to you and follow you and stay in the loop. It's been such a pleasure speaking with you today. Thanks for joining us on Raise the Script.

Speaker 1: 29:15

Uh, you too, thank you so much.

Speaker 3: 29:18

What I love most about Kelly's story is that it reminds us of something we rarely say out loud. Strength isn't always loud, resilience isn't always visible, and the rise doesn't always look like a triumphant comeback. Sometimes it begins quietly, in the moments when no one is watching. Kelly didn't rebuild her life in a straight line. She didn't leap from crisis to clarity, she took small steps, the kind most people will never see, and gave herself permission to rewrite a future that didn't look anything like the one she originally planned. And that's the part I want you to hold on to. You don't have to wait for life to fall apart to choose yourself. You don't have to hit a breaking point to start listening to your body, and you certainly don't have to carry your invisible battles alone. If Kelly's story stirred something in you, whether it's a desire for rest, clarity, direction, or support, I want you to know there are resources here for you. If you'd like to explore how your DNA, lifestyle, and environment shape your health and energy, you can visit me at thelyfebalance.com. That's where you'll find tools and conversations designed to help you build wellness that fits your life, not the other way around. And if you haven't grabbed it yet, make sure you download your InHer CEO Blueprint. It's a free guide that walks you through five DNA-based strategies to boost your energy, mental clarity, and confidence without extremes or burnout. And if you're a healthcare practitioner or wellness professional, you'll also want to explore the DNA Strategy starter kit. It's a framework that shows you how to integrate nutrigenomics into your work so you can help clients create personalized plans that truly last. Because whether you're navigating burnout, rebuilding after loss, or simply ready to evolve, health isn't guesswork, it's design. And your body is always given information. You just need a right roadmap to translate it. Kelly's story is a reminder that you can rise even quietly and still rise powerfully. Talk to you next Friday. Until then, always remember to raise the script on health because together we can bring healthcare to higher levels.