The Anatomy of Anxiety with Dr. Ellen Vora

Anxiety affects more than forty million Americans a number that continues to climb in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. While conventional medicine tends to view anxiety as a neck-up problem that is, one of brain chemistry and psychology the truth is that the origins of anxiety are rooted in the body. In The Anatomy of Anxiety, holistic psychiatrist Dr. Ellen Vora offers nothing less than a paradigm shift in our understanding of anxiety and mental health, suggesting that anxiety is not simply a brain disorder but a whole-body condition. In her clinical work, Dr. Vora has found time and again that the symptoms of anxiety can often be traced to imbalances in the body. The emotional and physical discomfort we experience sleeplessness, brain fog, stomach pain, jitters is a result of the body’s stress response. This physiological state can be triggered by challenging experiences as well as seemingly innocuous factors, such as diet, drinking alcohol, nutrient deficiencies, the use of technology and many other factors that we will explore on the show. On today’s podcast, you will learn: The difference between “true anxiety” and “false anxiety”. Ellen’s key tips from her book, The Anatomy of Anxiety, that will help to reduce anxiety. The relationship between sleep and anxiety. Why food is central to managing anxiety. Top supplements and herbs Ellen recommends to her patients for anxiety. GABA’s role in reducing anxiety. Why you must address trauma to heal anxiety. Dr. Ellen Vora's Bio: Ellen Vora, MD, is a holistic psychiatrist, acupuncturist, yoga teacher, and the author of 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, and she is board-certified in psychiatry and integrative holistic medicine. She lives in New York City with her husband and daughter. She is the author of the new book The Anatomy of Anxiety: Understanding and Overcoming the Body's Fear Response You can learn more about Dr. Vora and her work at ellenvora.com