In today’s episode of The Root Cause Medicine Podcast, Dr. Kate Kresge sits down with Dr. Ellen Vora to discuss a revolutionary framework for understanding anxiety—not as a disorder, but as a message from the body or soul.

They explore the difference between false anxiety, which stems from physiological imbalances like blood sugar crashes, sleep disruption, and inflammation, and true anxiety, which often points to deeper emotional or existential truths.

You’ll hear them discuss:

• Why anxiety is the beginning of an inquiry—not a final diagnosis
• The difference between “false” (body-based) and “true” (purpose-driven) anxiety
• How nutrient deficiencies and gut imbalances can mimic psychiatric symptoms
• The surprising mental health effects of hormonal birth control
• How to use food as medicine to support neurotransmitter balance and calm
• The dangers of benzodiazepines—and how to taper with the help of functional medicine
• The power of psychobiotics, circadian rhythm, and inflammation reduction
• Why GABA, inositol, and phosphatidylcholine are key to recovery
• How to approach anxiety with both compassion and curiosity

Dr. Ellen Vora is a holistic, board-certified psychiatrist, acupuncturist, and yoga teacher who takes a functional medicine approach to mental health. She is the author of the bestselling book The Anatomy of Anxiety, where she introduces a powerful framework that distinguishes between false and true anxiety. Her work empowers individuals to address anxiety at the root—biochemical, hormonal, inflammatory, or psychospiritual—so they can heal from the inside out. Through her clinical work, speaking, and writing, Dr. Vora is redefining what it means to support mental wellness in a modern world.
Guest Details:Website: ellenvora.com
Instagram: @ellenvoramd
Book: The Anatomy of Anxiety – Available in paperback, Kindle, and Audible

Rupa Health Details:

• Rupa Health's Website, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
• Rupa Health Reference Guide & Magazine
• Dr. Carrie Jones Website, Instagram, Facebook & YouTube
  
  

Labs Mentioned

• Hemoglobin A1C
• Thyroid Markers
• Microbiome Lab Testing
• Sleep Studies
• Phosphatidylcholine
• Inositol
• GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid)

Timestamps00:00 – Introducing Dr. Ellen Vora and The Anatomy of Anxiety
01:03 – Anxiety as the beginning of inquiry, not the end
03:56 – False vs. true anxiety: A revolutionary framework
07:10 – How physical imbalance creates false anxiety
20:27 – Blood sugar imbalances and simple interventions
28:18 – Nutritional psychiatry and real food as medicine
36:41 – Gluten, dairy, and exorphins: food as a drug
44:55 – Balancing intuitive eating with food as a root cause
50:44 – Kate’s personal story: misdiagnosed celiac disease
59:52 – Functional medicine offers hope where meds fall short
1:00:30 – The role of sleep, light, and circadian rhythm
1:04:10 – Inflammation and the cytokine hypothesis of depression
1:12:01 – Psychobiotics and building GABA from the gut
1:15:22 – Benzodiazepines, alcohol, and GABA withdrawal
1:21:30 – Supplements, detox, and tapering benzos
1:26:36 – Preview of Part 2: True anxiety
1:27:26 – Functional lab testing for psychiatry
1:37:54 – How to find a root-cause trained practitioner
1:43:15 – Where to find Dr. Vora and her book