Dr. Simone’s Mind Space

Each individual deals differently when confronted with infertility. Some become very obsessed with their own health, very task-oriented, some depressed, some anxious, others angry and resentful. It is important to accept the entire rainbow of emotions. Sometimes, seeking help as an individual and as a couple can relief some of the emotional pain. Look after yourself. Be kind to yourself. Be unders...

We all have our habits and daily routines. Some of these lifestyle factors are more or less supportive and constructive for our health. Yet, changing habits, no matter how destructive they may be, is incredibly challenging. It takes time, perseverance, patience, willingness, and acceptance to make adjustments. When facing infertility, lifestyle factors, as do physical, and mental factors play thei...

Many couples have an idea of their trajectory of their relationship, including milestones they would like to achieve. Moving in together, decorating a joint home, travel, spend everyday life together, and plan the future ahead. If couples are in a relationship for a long time, in addition do decide to get married, a natural follow up in most societies is the expectation of the couple having a chil...

Many women around the world are undecidedly childfree. The reasons can be very diverse and for many women and partners the cause never found. It is a very challenging situation on a personal, relationship based, family, societal, and even evolutionary level. It’s against the norms and conventions of society and our evolutionary instincts, dreams, expectations, desires, that are unwanted denied to...

Today’s conversation and second episode of a public health series on perimenopause. Dr. Anna answers questions and shares her expertise on hormonal supplement treatments, lifestyle components, and other ways in treating symptoms of perimenopause. Anna Raggi, MD, gynecologist, reproductive medicine specialist and gynecological endocrinologist. Women's health has always fascinated her, and even as a...

Parents of young children often struggle with finding time for their romantic relationship. It starts with the lack of looking at each other’s eyes. Finding time to look at each other, not after a child running around or being just to exhausted for couple’s time, looking at the phone, watching TV, or simply falling asleep. These moments are super rare and precious to maintain the relationship. We...

We all are victims of uninterruptedly looking at our screens, whenever there’s downtime. A wait at a restaurant for a meal, a coffee break at a Café, lining up to order any drinks or food, especially in NYC, a subway or train ride, elevator, prior to boarding a plane, the list could go on and on. Looking up and being aware of our surroundings, catching their gaze, and even start a conversation. I’...

Traveling, especially solo traveling can expand our horizon. It does do something with us, challenging our inner selves for self reflection. We’re thrown out of our routine everyday life, the ordinary, out of our comfort zones. This place is maybe unsettling, uncomfortable, stressful, yet also very refreshing, and rejuvenating. The disruption traveling can cause to both body and mind have pros and...

It’s a very frequently discussed topic and no simple answer can be given. The amount of consumption of stimuli in today’s world is incredibly. Filtering all the input isn’t easy, especially for children, who haven’t yet developed their executive functions. As parents, we feel the urge to organise lots of after school activities, engage, and entertain our children, hardly letting time pass without...

The importance of autonomy can’t be underestimated in all ages, from birth to old age. The earlier we establish autonomy, the better for our sense of self, self-esteem, self-containment, frustration tolerance, and general independence. We all desire to be independent masters of our own lives, in very young and very mature  age. Giving safe autonomy early in a baby’s, infant, and toddler’s life, re...

As parents, we positively influence our children’s self-esteem by giving the children autonomy from a very early age on.   We can praise them for their efforts in school, extra curricular activities, sports, music, art, etc. not for their performance, grades, winning, etc. The latter reduces self-esteem,  sets the child under massive performance pressure, as the child is only seen and appreciated...

Today’s children’s schedule is more compact than many adults. It involves a lot of performance driven activities, such as exam preparation, homework, music lessons, competitive sports, potential tutoring, and more. This constant performance and active mode of children limits creative play, boredom, and phantasy. It further requires parent involvement, rather than time with peers or by oneself.   R...

Starting a new school year is demanding for everyone within the family. New routines need to be established, stress regulated, adjustment to new academic and social settings digested and contained. This requires a lot of emotional capacity and stress tolerance by the parents. Being aware of this crucial role as parents is very relevant and parents will notice the positive outcome of a more harmoni...

Today’s conversation and first episode of a public health series, with Anna Raggi, MD, gynecologist, reproductive medicine specialist and gynecological endocrinologist. Women's health has always fascinated her, and even as a young doctor she enjoyed listening to her patients, consulting, and advising them. She is very passionate about her work at the Fertisuisse fertility treatment center in Olten...

A time of excitement, anxiety, and increased stress for all family members.   How can we best navigate this time to keep the calm and support our little ones the best?   Start the day with a family routine. Make every day a special day. Prepare school bags the day before to reduce stress in the morning. Discuss who likes which snacks and pack them for break times. Keep time without plans in the ki...

Many parents around the world are currently spending more time with their children than during their usual working days. School holidays are usually longer than parents holiday weeks off work, resulting in lots of organization, additional financial costs, challenges to meet all family members’ needs, tension, family, couple’s vs. alone time.   How to deal with summer break as a family, couple, and...

After a wonderful time as a couple, leaving the baby with hid grandparents, to suddenly be all alone, needs adjustment! Such a tough day, making one very sensitive, vulnerable, and thin skinned. On such a day, it’s important to be extra kind and generous to ourselves.   Here comes a list of recommendations: Go to a cafe by yourself. Stroll around without clear agenda. Relax at a place you’d usuall...

How do we define life quality in its core? Living in today’s societies, constantly being on is difficult. We run around 24/7 in our mind and physically always being on the go, planning the next activity, task etc. Being and living in the moment isn’t even existing anymore. That’s very sad and concerning, with regards to our mental and physical health. It takes a lot of effort to get into a state o...

It’s essential for young parents or busy working couples to take time to look into each other’s eyes. Dedicate time just for one another! It will maintain the relationship and spread happiness to all family members.     @drschwank @optimalperformancezurich @unesurcent

Happy wife happy life, happy mommy happy family! In order to give, we need to be able to breathe ourselves. Make sure you spend some time alone. May it be a walk along the beach, a yoga class, reading a book uninterruptedly, getting a massage or good night sleep. We can only share our energy if there’s any left. @drschwank @optimalperformancezurich @unesurcent

Working around the world calls for experience in preparation. Travel planning: Start your mental inspiration well in advance to imagine the place and increase your “Vorfreude” (anticipation excitement) Pack outfits not clothes! Work with accessories (scarfs, bags, shoes) Shoes: pack a variety of comfort styles for all occasions and long walks! For the flight: a comfortable outfit both for ground a...

A guides for a morning routine designed to boost self-esteem and reduce anxiety for the day ahead.   Morning steps to self-esteem: Get up, look into the mirror and tell yourself: hi good morning, I’m just good enough right the way I am! Refresh and pamper your face with a daily practice. Practice a morning routine; yoga, meditation, running, a nice walk around the block, a swim. You’ll feel energi...

Teaches visualization techniques aimed at self-empowerment and managing anxiety. How to boost your sense of self-empowerment? Honestly, not an easy task to answer! We’re brilliant in second guessing ourselves, putting ourselves down, when in theory the exact opposite is what we should be doing! During my training and research, I’ve encountered several inspiring role models. My grandma, PhD supervi...

Today’s episode demonstrates fast and effective methods to boost confidence before important events or decisions. How can we boost confidence before important events or decisions? -Exercise and get an endorphin booster and reduce stress at the same time. -Turn the world upside down, do an inversion pose such as headstand, shoulder stand. It will sharpen your attention, make you feel more confident...

This episode explores how the psychology of self-confidence, impacts mental health, sprinkled with practical tips to enhance it. Self-confidence starts in earliest childhood. It’s related to a feeling of autonomy and mastery. The earlier children are given the freedom of action to try new things, the more they grow their self-confidence. In order to gain self-confidence, we need to be able to trus...