The Top 7 Physiological Causes of Anxiety You Might Be Overlooking | Ep 384

9 snips

Nov 4, 2025

What if anxiety is your body's way of signaling a need for change? Discover how circadian rhythm disruptions and blood sugar imbalances can trigger feelings of panic. Hormonal shifts, such as low progesterone, amplify anxiety, while neuroinflammation creates a feedback loop of distress. Explore surprising links between lifestyle habits and emotional wellbeing, and learn how to decode these signals for a calmer life. Nutritional support and individualized plans may be key to breaking free from anxiety's grip.

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ANECDOTE

Personal Panic Attacks Sparked Change

Erin Holt shares that she experienced daily panic attacks in her early 20s and was on benzodiazepines then.
Her panic attacks served as a message to leave a job and take next steps in life.

INSIGHT

Circadian Alignment Shapes Mood

Our biology requires alignment with natural light cycles for mental and emotional stability.
Erin Holt says modern indoor, screen-heavy living disrupts circadian rhythm and can drive anxiety.

ADVICE

Use Light To Reset Your Clock

Get morning sunlight into your eyes and skin to reset your circadian rhythm each day.
Wind down at night by lowering lights and eliminating screens before bed to protect sleep and mood.

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What if your anxiety isn’t something to fix, but a message from your body that something needs to change? In this episode, Erin breaks down the most common hidden physiological roots of anxiety, from disrupted circadian rhythms and blood sugar imbalances, to hormonal shifts and neuroinflammation, all of which leave your body feeling stuck in overdrive!

You’ll learn how everyday habits like poor sleep, under-eating, and overexposure to artificial light can create biological stress that fuels anxious feelings. More importantly, Erin explains how to decode those signals, understand what your body’s really asking for, and reconnect the dots between your physical health and emotional wellbeing, so you feel calm and grounded again.

P.S. Join the waitlist for Manifest Your Health so you can rewire your body’s patterns and align your health with the life you want to live.

In this episode:

Why sunlight might be the most underrated anxiety treatment, and how living out of sync with nature’s cycles disrupts your circadian rhythm
A surprising connection between skipping breakfast, caffeine on an empty stomach, and mid-morning panic
Why hormone imbalances like low progesterone and thyroid issues can amplify anxiety, and what labs reveal about it
The link between methylation, detox pathways, and feeling “wired but tired”
How inflammation in the brain and gut dysbiosis create a feedback loop that perpetuates anxious thinking

Resources mentioned:

Want help identifying your root anxiety causes? Apply to work with us 1:1 here!

Join the waitlist for Manifest Your Health

FOR OUR FULL LIST OF LINKS + RESOURCES, HEAD TO:

https://www.thefunktionalnutritionist.com/podcast/384-anxiety

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