The Kusnacht Practice Podcast

 “They get stuck in a cycle, maybe dieting or exercising or both. Or ‘I'm going to lose weight a little bit more quickly so that when lockdown is over I'll look better'. And before you know it, you're in an eating disorder and you're stuck in a pattern of restricting and bingeing.”– Melissa Nobile, Clinical Operations Manager Geneva.In the latest podcast from The Kusnacht Practice, Global Sales and Marketing Director Philippe Rovere talks with Melissa Nobile, Clinical Operations Manager Geneva, about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on eating and body image disorders.Melissa explores the various factors that have contributed to the dramatic rise in incidence, underlining the overwhelming and harmful influence of social media. She discusses the difficulties for families to recognise the illness, the hidden signs and subtle clues that often go unnoticed, as well as the importance of seeking professional treatment to break the obsessive cycle and ease the suffering. 

 “It's one of those difficulties that, just in the space of weeks, as I said a little earlier, can go from being afraid to going to Starbucks, to being afraid to leave their bed.”– Melissa Nobile, psychologist MSc.In the latest podcast from The Kusnacht Practice, Global Sales and Marketing Director Philippe Rovere talks with Melissa Nobile – psychologist MSc - about the rising incidence of agoraphobia and its effect on mental health.Melissa explains the complex nature of the disorder, the signs to initially look out for and the rapid progression that follows.She addresses the damaging impact of the pandemic and lockdown on those affected and the ‘other risk factors' that can lead to the development, as well as the urgency in seeking help to avoid any advancement of the illness. 

 “Many people are going to feel long term effects. I expect for, maybe around 15 to 25% of the population, life will not return to normal when we come through the other side of this pandemic. If and when that happens.”– Dean Gustar, Relapse Prevention Specialist.  In the latest podcast from The Kusnacht Practice, Global Sales and Marketing Director Philippe Rovere and Relapse Prevention Specialist Dean Gustar discuss the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and reflect on the year gone by.Dean analyses the increase in alcohol consumption, illegal and prescription drug use, and the ripple effects of the escalation. He addresses the rise in cases of depression and anxiety, the fear of infection that's preventing many from seeking treatment, and the preparations required to better cope in the future.

“So, if it happens for a few nights, where someone's not sleeping so well, humans have resources, so they'll manage to compensate. But, if it becomes more chronic, over time, it's going to create problems on lots of different psychological and physical factors.” – Melissa Nobile, psychologist MSc.  A recent survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine suggests that an overwhelming proportion of American adults don't get enough sleep. In the latest podcast from The Kusnacht Practice, Global Sales and Marketing Director Philippe Rovere talks with Melissa Nobile - psychologist MSc - about sleep deprivation and its effect on mental health. Melissa discusses the importance of sleep, and the damaging effects of short- and long-term deprivation. She addresses the external factors that influence sleeping habits, and the natural variations, within an individual, throughout the course of their life.  As well as providing advice and methods on how to improve the quality of your sleep, and the things to avoid in order to promote a peaceful night's rest. 

"It's not the pandemic in itself that has a direct causal link to the increase in mental health problems, but the pandemic has changed our day to day life.” – Melissa Nobile, psychologist MSc. A new survey released by UK children's charity the NSPCC has revealed a troubling increase in mental health concerns in young people, with counselling sessions for eating and body image disorders skyrocketing. In the latest podcast from The Kusnacht Practice, Global Sales and Marketing Director Philippe Rovere talks with Melissa Nobile - psychologist MSc - about  the effects of the pandemic on the mental health of young people. Melissa discusses the ‘mediating factors' that have led to the development of mental health issues, and the value of communication and creativity in providing a solution.She addresses the prevalence and severity of eating and body image disorders, underlining the importance of early intervention. As well as the significance of the NSPCC's Childline  service ‘Nobody is Normal' campaign and the positive message it conveys.

 “It's going to be just all these signs that show that it's no longer a child or teen wanting or asking to play, but it's a child or teen needing to play. And that's where all the difference is going to be.” – Melissa Nobile, psychologist MSc.The popularity of video games has risen dramatically since the start of the pandemic, with lockdowns and restrictions only increasing the appeal. But while the interest among consumers has multiplied, so too has the development of addictive patterns.In the latest podcast from The Kusnacht Practice, Global Sales and Marketing Director Philippe Rovere talks with Melissa Nobile – psychologist MSc about the effects of gaming on mental health.Melissa explores the indiscriminate nature of gaming dependence. The manifestation of combined factors that can lead to an addictive pattern. The obsessive and neglectful behaviours exhibited, as well as advice to parents on methods of early interventions. 

 “And now that it's become a longer-term problem, this pandemic, we're starting to actually look at how it's impacting people, including the younger generation and it does feel like it's a time bomb that's emerging.”– Melissa Nobile, psychologist MSc.“While the pandemic shows no signs of slowing down, the effects on our youth are becoming increasingly apparent.”In the latest podcast from The Kusnacht Practice, Global Sales and Marketing Director Philippe Rovere talks with Melissa Nobile – psychologist MSc - about the exponential rise in mental health issues affecting young people.Together, they discuss the rapid escalation in the demand for mental health assistance that has led to services being overwhelmed and rendered ineffective.The absence of counsellors and reduced mental health support in schools, and the behavioural changes and subtle clues that indicate that someone is struggling. 

 “We sometimes have this tendency to think, as human beings, that it's going to be one big solution that's going to get us out of our current struggle with mental health. But it's actually a lot of little things put together that are going to create the solution.” – Melissa Nobile, psychologist MSc.In the thirteenth episode of The Kusnacht Practice's podcast series, Global Sales and Marketing Director Philippe Rovere talks with Melissa Nobile, psychologist MSc, about depression and its association with suicidal ideation in young people.Melissa examines the rise in young people requesting mental health assistance and the increased severity of symptoms. She highlights the importance of reaching out to others, the limitless value of hobbies in providing a positive mental distraction. And the encouraging influence that celebrities coming forward will have on shaping the ideals of our youth.  

 “It takes, for some people, a really big effort to wake up and motivate themselves for everyday life. So these symptoms might not be seen by others, but they're still having debilitating effects on the person.” – Dr. med. univ. László Ürögi, specialist in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy.As winter approaches, so too does the threat of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is a psychological condition triggered by the changing of seasons. Often displaying depressive-like symptoms, it occurs around the same time each year, most commonly- but not exclusively- during the winter months.In episode twelve of The Kusnacht Practice's podcast series, Global Sales and Marketing Director Philippe Rovere talks with Dr. med. univ. László Ürögi, Specialist in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).Dr. Ürögi reveals the signs that often go unnoticed and the advantages and effectiveness of light therapy in alleviating symptoms. He stresses the importance of physical activity and maintaining social contact to avoid the development of SAD, while underlining the benefits of using online platforms to compensate for ‘social distancing'.  

 “There's a link between experiencing stressors and having difficulties with mental health.” – Melissa Nobile, psychologist MSc.  With the global pandemic far from over, the dramatic adjustment to the ‘new normal' is placing an additional strain on the mental health of our youth.  In the eleventh episode of The Kusnacht Practice's podcast series, Global Sales and Marketing Director Philippe Rovere talks with Melissa Nobile – psychologist MSc about the rising cases of mental health disorders among young people.  Melissa explores the many circumstances that have led to the increase. The stressors created by the lockdown and its related effects on children through ‘social referencing', as well as the developmental stunting experienced by teens.  She addresses the alarming escalation in eating disorders and incidences of self-harming, identifying the warning signs and providing advice to parents and loved ones' on the steps to seeking help. 

 “The reason we feel depressed or anxious, drained out, experience strong cravings for sugar or substances, have problems falling asleep at night is often linked with our very complex biochemical environment interior, and deficiencies and imbalances there.” – Dr. med. vet. Antoinette Sarasin Gianduzzo, Director of Biomolecular Restoration (Bio-R®), Nutrition & Lifestyle. When the chemistry in our brain and body is disrupted we cannot function properly. Biomolecular Restoration, or Bio-R® is an innovative and personalised clinical treatment designed to detect and rectify biochemical imbalances in order to promote physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.  In the tenth episode of The Kusnacht Practice's new podcast series, Global Sales and Marketing Director Philippe Rovere speaks with Dr. med. vet. Antoinette Sarasin Gianduzzo, Director of Biomolecular Restoration (Bio-R®), Nutrition & Lifestyle about the Bio-R® programme. Antoinette breaks down and discusses the ‘four pillars' of treatment and the expanding array of applications. The benefits of micronutrient supplementation and the science and methods to rejuvenation.    

“Social media creates ideal images of what a young woman's and, girl's life should look like.” – Dr. med. Katayun Hassanpour, Specialist in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at The Kusnacht Practice.A third of all young women are suffering from anxiety and depression in the UK, Government figures suggest, as experts blame the twenty-four seven nature of social media. In episode #009 of The Kusnacht Practice's new podcast series, Global Sales and Marketing Director – Philippe Rovere talks with Dr. med. Katayun Hassanpour – Specialist in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy about the effects of social media on the mental health of young females. Dr. Hassanpour discusses the increase in cases of anxiety due to social media's manufactured, and unachievable ideals of beauty; the ever-growing distance between the real world and the artificial, and the associated pressure on young women to pursue ‘the perfect life'.

 “When you are the CEO of a business you hold the full responsibility of the future of the business on your shoulders.” – Eduardo Greghi, CEO of The Kusnacht Practice.A study by the National Institute of Mental Health found that 72% of entrepreneurs are directly or indirectly affected by mental health issues compared to just 48% of non-entrepreneurs.In the eighth episode of The Kusnacht Practice's new podcast series, Global Sales and Marketing Director Philippe Rovere talks with CEO Eduardo Greghi about entrepreneurial stress related to COVID-19.Eduardo discusses the burden of leadership and the apprehension resulting from the ongoing pandemic, while sharing his advice on maintaining good mental health and the ‘importance of presence over productivity.'  

 “It is a very effective method of psychotherapy because you work on the cognitive area, on the behavioural area and you develop skills and coping mechanisms to apply in real life.”– Dr. med. Konrad Hitz, Operational Medical Director.Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a short-term, goal-orientated treatment designed to help manage ones' difficulties by identifying and changing negative patterns of thought or behaviour. In the seventh episode of The Kusnacht Practice's podcast, Philippe Rovere – Global Sales and Marketing Director talks with Dr. med Konrad Hitz – Operational Medical Director about the power of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Dr. Hitz explores the benefits of CBT and its effectiveness in treating mental health issues, as well as its practical approach to problem-solving by providing the patients with the ‘tools' to navigate the various obstacles in their lives. 

 “As we know, psychiatric disorders or mental health issues are highly stigmatised in society, so people try to avoid speaking about them and be transparent because they are afraid of social disadvantages.”- Dr. med. Katayun Hassanpour, Specialist in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at The Kusnacht Practice.With the negative connotations generally associated with mental health issues, people are often reluctant to seek treatment. As such, depression is a condition that is highly underdiagnosed.In the sixth episode of our new podcast series, The Kusnacht Practice's Philippe Rovere, Global Sales and Marketing Director, talks with Dr. med. Katayun Hassanpour, specialist in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy about depression and the recent announcement of Lady Gaga's struggle with the illness.Dr. Hassanpour discusses the early signs and symptoms of a person suffering, the clinical treatments available, and the importance of ‘establishing a daily routine' to aid in recovery.

 “Being on the Limbic Chair creates a sensation of flow. It connects you with your body and it disconnects from the analysing and sometimes worrying mind. One can say this is a very good mindfulness exercise.”- Raluca Babota, Continuing Care Coordinator at The Kusnacht Practice.At The Kusnacht Practice we pride ourselves on being the global leaders in innovative care services. As such, we seek to reinvent the experience of care by implementing the latest scientific and technological advances to deliver unparalleled medical expertise. In the latest episode of our podcast series, The Kusnacht Practice's Philippe Rovere, Global Sales and Marketing Director talks with Raluca Babota, Continuing Care Coordinator about the effectiveness of virtual reality, used in conjunction with Limbic Chairs in treating mental health issues. Raluca spoke at length on the subject. Discussing the creation and purpose of the Limbic Chair, the positive effects of the combined therapies on various mental health conditions. And the unlimited potential yet to be realised.

 “It's no surprise with the stress, global stress that we're experiencing that people are turning to alcohol as a coping strategy.”- Dean Gustar, Senior Clinical Operations Manager at The Kusnacht Practice. As the COVID-19 pandemic lingers on, the exponential rise in cases of anxiety and depression appear directly linked to the escalation in alcohol consumption. In the fourth episode of our podcast series, The Kusnacht Practice's Philippe Rovere, Global Sales and Marketing Director talks with Dean Gustar, Senior Clinical Operations Manager about the dramatic increase in alcohol dependence during this difficult time. Dean explores the various ‘triggers' that lead to consumption, the warning signs to look out for and the methods to adopt in order to avoid spiralling into dependency. 

 “The thing is that for many people, many addicted people, they cannot imagine leading a life without this substance because their life would be empty" - The Kusnacht Practice's Professor Dr. med. Wulf Rössler.In modern society, the behavioural patterns and associations with a substance often make it increasingly more difficult to overcome an addiction. Understanding the reasons which have led to the development of the abuse is a crucial part of the recovery process.In our latest podcast, host and resident psychologist Melissa Nobile speaks with Professor Dr. med. Wulf Rössler on the issue of substance abuse. Professor Rössler discusses the stigma of addiction, the factors which are attributed to substance abuse and how to identify the signs of dependence. 

 “Anxiety is the feeling of worry or fear, it can be mild or severe it is a natural and necessary feeling in certain life situations”- The Kusnacht Practice's resident psychotherapist, Dr. phil. David Eldred.  With restrictions being lifted all over the world, many people are now showing signs of anxiety toward ‘the new normal'. While fear of the unknown is commonplace, COVID-19 is causing anxiety in people who have never shown signs of anxiety before. In our latest podcast, host and resident psychologist Melissa Nobile speaks with Dr. phil. David Eldred about dealing with anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. phil. Eldred spoke in great detail about common forms of anxiety that many people are displaying as a result of the current situation and put forward his best suggestions for managing these symptoms.  

'Relapse prevention is the key factor of successful addiction treatment', said Dean Gustar, Clinical Operations Manager and Addiction Specialist at the Kusnacht Practice. After an interview with Dean was published last month about preventing relapse during quarantine, we received many questions, queries and requests about relapse in general. That's why the first episode of our new podcast series is a deep dive into relapse. In it, you can listen to our Clinical Operations Manager, Dean Gustar, in conversation with Melissa Nobile discussing relapse triggers, prevention and how to manage relapse during the recovery period. You can read the article with Dean Gustar on “How to prevent relapse during quarantine” in the link below  https://kusnachtpractice.com/articles/interview-dean-gustar/