Anxiety disorders are on the rise today, and the world we live in doesn’t make it any easier to deal with. According to the World Health Organization, anxiety has increased by 25% since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this episode, psychiatrist and author Ellen Vora joins us to discuss the main message of her new book, “The Anatomy of Anxiety.” We discuss generalized anxiety disorder, how to deal with anxiety as a woman, different factors that contribute to mental health, lifestyle changes vs anxiety medication, and more. If you or someone you care about struggles with anxiety symptoms, make sure to check out Ellen’s book.

Ellen Vora, MD is a board-certified psychiatrist, acupuncturist, and yoga teacher. She is the author of the bestselling book “The Anatomy of Anxiety”. She takes a functional medicine approach to mental health—considering the whole person and addressing imbalance at the root. Dr. Vora received her B.A. from Yale University and her M.D. from Columbia University. 

Discussed in this episode:

• Dr. Ellen Vora’s work as a psychiatrist 
• Understanding false anxiety and real anxiety, and how to know the difference
• Genetic vs psycho-spiritual influences on mental health 
• Getting clear on lifestyle changes for anxiety 
• Medication as a bridge out of mental suffering, not a quick-fix solution
• Women’s hormonal effects on anxiety and experiencing valid emotions
• Crafting an environment and community that feels good to you

“True anxiety is actually what’s right with us when we are able to viscerally connect to what’s wrong around us. It’s not something to pathologize — it’s something to slow down and heed its guidance.” - Ellen Vora

Related to this episode:

• Get Ellen Vora’s Book: The Anatomy of Anxiety
• Website: www.ellenvora.com 
• Follow Ellen Vora on Instagram: @ellenvoraMD
• Mentioned Episode: Ovulation is Critical for Women’s Health | Dr. Jerilynn Prior
• Resources and episodes on Mental Health

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**The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor.  Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.**