Alice Gelderblom Waddilove Occupational Therapy

31/03/2026

Burnout recovery is possible! I'm not burnt out anymore! I have been burn out free for at least a year and it feels like it isn't budging. I think my burnout set in just before covid, under covid circumstances, working in mental health support it didn't have space to heal.

It took at least two solid years to recover. During those years hard things still happened in my personal life and in the world. The past year has also had its painful moments, and it's okay, the pain passes, I don't stay stuck in it. I can engage, and be a proactive community member.

Here are some of the things that helped me, mostly the basics of what humans need to reset and maintain healthy function. I had to take a big spoon of my own medicine.

I changed my work environment, moving into my solo practice where I could work the hours I had capacity to work. Thanks to for accommodating this transition, and to and for their fabulous Step Out coaching course which helped with hand holding! I want to acknowledge that this was a luxury. It is not always possible to do this for various reasons, but understanding how to self advocate helps.

Regular supervision has always been a big part of my clinical support since working in mental health sectors. I really value my supervisors care and support in navigating solo practice and my clinical skills.

Seeing a new dermatologist about my eczema was a huge one. I have an easy management plan! The stress - eczema cycle is broken!

Eating 3 meals a day. Not skipping meals. Not skipping breakfast. Food is fuel. Our brains need enough fuel. Noticing my rhythms also helps. I sometimes need a snack or two, especially in the late afternoon.

Getting enough sleep. 8 hours is the sweet spot.

The first to go when the burnout crept in was exercise. I am approaching exercise like a basic prescription. It is looking like weekly ballet, and weekly personal training (with my mom) with .cttrainer. Having these set non negotiable spaces in my schedule has helped immensely. Then I try a daily gentle stroll.

Burnout recovery is possible!

07/07/2024

WHAT IS WET BRAIN?

Wet Brain is a term used to describe Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome — a kind of brain damage that results from a lack of Vitamin B — specifically Thiamine. It is a serious medical condition that is very common for long term alcohol abusers. [adapted from Zinnia Health]

Cause: People with alcoholism commonly make poor dietary and lifestyle choices which leaves their body with a shortage of nutrients. In addition, alcohol inflames the lining of the stomach which makes it difficult for the body to absorb any nutrients. Ordinarily, Thiamine helps the body use nutrients to generate energy so without it the body becomes more and more vitamin deprived.

SYMPTOMS OF WET BRAIN:
Wet Brain has two stages — Wernicke encephalopathy followed by Korsakoff psychosis. These are technically considered two different conditions but someone with wet brain will develop both, so they can be considered two stages of one condition.

STAGE 1 — WERNICKE ENCEPHALOPATHY (WE):
WE is the first stage of wet brain that is caused by bleeding in the brain. It’s symptoms are:

Trouble with balance.
Irregular eye movements.
Poor Reflexes.
Rapid Heart Beat.
Poor Coordination.
Low Body Temperature.
Weakness in the muscles
Trouble walking
Confusion or fogginess.
Very few people will demonstrate all these symptoms, and some people will have only one symptom which can make WE very difficult to diagnose. Unfortunately, WE is very short-lived which is why 80-90% of alcoholics who develop WE will get Korsakoff’s.

STAGE 2 — KORSAKOFF PSYCHOSIS (KP):
KP is the second stage of Wet Brain. Its effects are very serious and will be permanent if not treated early and properly. Symptoms are:

Trouble learning new things.
Hallucinations.
Forgetful and easily frustrated.
Poor coordination and balance skills.
Trouble walking properly (due to balance and coordination problems).
Vision deterioration.
Mental confusion and being frequently disoriented.
Anterograde Amnesia: The inability to form new memories
Confabulation: Inventing or making up events and things to compensate for the inability to form new memories
A noticeable change in personality:
People can become more anxious or depressed or angry.

Diagnosis: If you suspect that you or someone you love has either of the conditions mentioned above, go to a medical facility immediately and order a blood test. Wet brain is a very serious medical condition and a medical visit should not be delayed.

Treatment: Wernicke’s encephalopathy may be treatable with thiamine and other vitamin supplements, drinking less alcohol, and changes in diet that include more vitamins and nutrients. In fact, making these changes will reverse the effects of WE and prevent you from getting Korsakoff Psychosis.

But once WE progresses to Korsakoff’s, the symptoms have a high risk of being permanent.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE WET BRAIN:
Go to a Medical Practitioner or hospital: Order a blood test and say you are concerned that you may have Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrom (aka Wet Brain). The doctor will ask if you are a heavy drinker.

Medically supervised detoxification. Part of the treatment for wet brain is no alcohol. If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol addiction they should never stop drinking suddenly without medical supervision.

30/05/2024

Cocreating artworks in the Thursday morning Craft and Support Group. Holding on versus letting go, and being open to different outcomes.

21/04/2024

Yesterday I attended Start the Conversation - an eating Disorder Conference hosted by Netcare Akeso Montrose Manor. How such a serious topic could be presented with such energy and thought. I left feeling energized and connected to colleagues who for the past few years I had only consulted with online.

Covid is over and a clear way to challenge post covid clinician burnout is for spaces to be created where we can connect, share, and learn best practice. I really challenge big hospital groups to do right by your clinicians and fund networking cpd events that are affordable/free and fun.

This especially provides a space to put our patients at the center of a conversation focused on what walking their recovery journey could look like.

11/11/2023

Always important to stand together for humanity and equity

04/09/2023

I'm excited about starting my first therapy group since moving into my own practice! Feels like a big step. You are welcome to share with people you think could benefit from this space. Thank you for the support and encouragement along the way :)

22/08/2023

See you there!

22/08/2023

It's nearly 30 September 2023! is being organized, its all so exciting! I can't wait to see you there!

23/07/2023

Everyone will find recovery from mental illness in their own way. The saying "First things First" is such an important one to consider for your recovery process. I need to ask myself the fundamental question: What do I need to do to put my recovery first today?

I can do this when I start my day, or when feeling conflicted. I want to lie on the couch and watch series. Maybe today thats what I need to do to out my recovery first, or is it? Maybe I need to walk the dogs in the sun with a loved one rather? Somedays a middle path approach can be to snuggle up with a hot drink and watch reality TV, somedays it is forcing myself to get my boots and raincoat on and to face the cold, dogs taking the lead!

Some days it is to push through and address an issue you are having at work with your manager, some days it is taking the mental health day and getting a massage. Some days it may be both?

Your recovery journey can be hard, selfish, and irritating. But you are worth this effort because it is also that in the difficulty is gentleness, in the selfishness is selflessness, and in the irritation is is an easier way of living!

12 step programs have been advocated for years for people struggling with substance/alcohol use disorders and other mental health struggles. Whatever you are in recovery from, I do believe that there are some helpful 12 step slogans that can be motivating along your path. The attached article highlights a 12 step understanding of First Things First.

Triage is the method used in emergency medicine to decide priorities. For individual patients, it comes down to a stepwise assessment and addressing the most important problems before the less important. The basics are: Start the breathing, then stop the bleeding, then protect the wound,then treat f...

15/04/2023

Whitney - sitwithwhit 🖤