Ilke de Lange’ Story
“Four years after my symptoms began, I am now fully recovered... I can easily spend a day at Disneyland and the next day in Paris. I am me again.”
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Before Illness / Early Illness
Full of energy, studying psychobiology, caring for a horse, working part-time
Epstein-Barr virus triggered severe fatigue, dizziness, brain fog, and rapid heartbeat
Progression
Started Master’s in Cognitive Neuroscience despite symptoms
Could sometimes function, but often crashed and was bedbound
Initial Approach
Didn’t initially seek treatment
Tried pacing and rest, but symptoms worsened
Later attempted dietary changes with no effect
Turning Point
New Covid infection led to two months largely bedridden
Discovered Jan Rothney’s Breaking Free book via internship
Recovery Tools
Used Reset to Thrive programme
Trauma therapy, somatic exercises, TRE, haptotherapy
Brain retraining and nervous system regulation techniques
Found safety through rest, boundaries, and focusing on the positive
Game-Changers
Rewiring beliefs around symptoms and movement
Using breath-focused activities like blowing bubbles for nervous system calm
Life Today
Fully recovered
Works in scientific research, sings in a choir, enjoys travel and social life
Symptoms are gone
Key Takeaway
Nervous system healing, mindset, and gentle, consistent effort led to full recovery
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Epstein Bahr virus lead to post-viral fatigue /CFS
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PTSD
Subclinical hypothyroidism
Concussion
Viruses including COVID twice
Allergies and asthma
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4 years
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Jan Rothney’s Reset to Thrive Programme
How it all began
Written in collaboration with Living Proof (https://www.livingproof.org.uk/)
Before I became unwell, I was studying psychobiology and achieving good grades. My life was filled with studying, travelling, caring for my horse, my part-time job, and social activities. I always had plenty of energy, just not enough time.
However, when I contracted the Epstein-Barr virus, my body suddenly forced me to stop. I experienced severe fatigue, headaches, rapid heartbeat, dizziness and brain fog. The hospital tests showed nothing, and I thought the symptoms would pass on their own.
“Sometimes I could manage my internship… other times, I could not sit up for weeks.”
How things progressed
I started a part-time Master’s in Cognitive Neuroscience, waiting for the fatigue to ease. My ability to function fluctuated: sometimes I could manage my internship activities but would crash in the evenings; other times, I could not sit up for weeks. I struggled daily with muscle fatigue, heart palpitations, headaches and brain fog.
When the doctors could not find anything to explain the symptoms, I assumed the fatigue and related symptoms would resolve on their own. I did not seek any treatment, but did try to prevent symptoms by resting, taking painkillers and pacing myself – even though my condition worsened over time. Two years later, I tried some diet changes, but these did not help either.
“I was barely able to even sit up in bed for two months… the severity of the symptoms was the final straw.”
A low that became a turning point
A new COVID infection pushed me to a new low. I was barely able to even sit up in bed for two months. I do not remember exactly how I felt as I have very little recollection of this period. However, I know that for me, the severity of the symptoms at this time was the final straw; I had to figure out how to recover.
As my symptoms were impossible to hide, I finally spoke up during my internship. There, I was recommended Jan Rothney’s book ‘Breaking Free – a guide to recovering from chronic fatigue syndrome and long covid symptoms’, which marked the start of my recovery journey.
Breaking Free shares Jan Rothney’s experience of recovering from chronic fatigue syndrome and long covid - and introduces her Reset to Thrive method. The book explains how to break patterns of fatigue, brain fog, and pain, using a neuroplastic / mind-body approach, offering a pathway toward lasting recovery.
Despite studying neuroscience, I had never considered that my symptoms could stem from a dysfunctional mind-body connection - a dysregulated nervous system. The book explains that chronic fatigue can be maintained by dysregulation of the nervous system and prolonged biological stress responses; rather than by any physical damage. It made me realize that nothing was broken or damaged and that I could recover by regulating my nervous system – and that I had the power to do this.
“Despite studying neuroscience, I had never considered that my symptoms could stem from a dysfunctional mind-body connection.”
Committing to the neuroplastic approach
I leant that recovery was possible, so I committed fully to the neuroplastic approach. My healing began with Jan Rothney’s Reset to Thrive programme, trauma therapy, learning to process emotions, somatic (body-based) exercises, haptotherapy (a therapy that helps people get more in touch with themselves and their emotions through bodily awareness), and creating a safe environment for my nervous system by reminding myself of all the positive things in my life and surrounding myself by people that supported me.
For months, my days consisted of resting, learning, setting boundaries, trauma processing (both cognitive and somatic via trauma releasing exercises - TRE), and rewiring my associations with symptoms and movement (brain retraining). I retrained my brain by learning to focus on the things I could do; reminding myself that symptoms were not dangerous and that avoidance was not helping me in the long run; and countering negative beliefs and thoughts related to movement, exertion and setbacks.
“Mindset is key. Be kind to yourself when things do not go as planned.”
Recovery game-changers
During my recovery, the two biggest game changers were retraining my brain and blowing bubbles. Blowing bubbles helped me by calming my breath (and thus nervous system), and taking the focus off my symptoms (and into the world around me).
What life looks like today
Four years after my symptoms began, I am now fully recovered. I work full time in neuroscientific research, sing in a choir and enjoy social and family relationships. I can easily spend a day at Disneyland and the next day in Paris! Symptoms like fatigue, heart palpitations, brain fog, and headaches are gone.
I am me again.
Tips to share with others in recovery
My tips? Find ways to soothe and regulate your nervous system, for example by committing to mind-body practices. Remember that mindset is key. Be kind to yourself when things do not go as planned. Know that recovery is possible.
