Episode 200: How We Should Be Thinking About Anxiety And Holistic Treatments That Work

My guest this week is Dr. Ellen Vora In this episode, Dr. Ellen and I discuss the very relevant topic of anxiety.  Anxiety is something that every child and every adult experiences at some point in their lives. While anxiety and anxiety disorders are becoming more common, it's also something that is often misunderstood: anxiety is so much more than “just a mental problem”.  When we ignore the physiology part, we are missing out on an important piece that we really need to understand and address. Why? Because anxiety is a whole-body situation.

The good news is, there are so many ways to support anxiety reduction and treatment that go beyond the traditional recommendations of just counseling or medication.  Listen in to learn more about the difference between “normal” anxiety and a disorder.  Dr. Ellen and I also dive deep into how we should be thinking about anxiety and holistic ways to approach it for ourselves, as well as for our children.

Dr. Ellen Vora received her BA from Yale University and attended Columbia University Medical School. She's a board-certified psychiatrist, medical acupuncturist, and yoga teacher. Dr. Vora takes a functional medicine approach to mental health, considering the whole person and addressing imbalance at the root rather than reflexively prescribing medication. In addition to her private practice and speaking engagements, Dr. Vora consults for healthcare startups, and has a book called The Anatomy of Anxiety coming out in March.

Episode Timeline:

Dr. Ellen Vora & Anxiety Background … 00:01:45

What is Anxiety and a Diagnosis? … 00:09:00

False and True Anxiety … 00:12:20

Designated Patient Concept … 00:17:30

Blood Sugar, Mood Stabilization & Normalizing Situations … 00:19:41

How Anxiety Might Show up in Kids vs Adults … 00:27:11

Management & Supporting Anxiety Reduction, Starting with Sleep … 00:31:27

Blood Sugar Stabilizing Diet & Alcohol … 00:41:30

Hardwired for Movement … 00:47:45

Addiction to Technology … 00:49:30

Resources and Wrap Up … 00:54:17

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