BROADCASTS.com

I had the honor of connecting with Dr. Ellen Vora today. She is a board-certified psychiatrist, acupuncturist, and yoga teacher. She is also the author of the best-selling book The Anatomy of Anxiety, which is one of my go-to resources on mental health.\xa0\nDr. Vora takes a functional medicine approach to mental health, considering the whole person and addressing the imbalance at the root.\xa0\nIn this episode, Dr. Vora and I dive into some ongoing real-world issues from the perspective of a mental health provider. We talk about some of the limits of traditional modalities, the impact of the pandemic, and the ensuing collective trauma. We discuss the root causes of substance abuse, promiscuity, alcohol, the avoidance of uncomfortable feelings, and resiliency. We discuss the physiology of the brain and gut and how they pertain to food addictions. We speak about gender differences with an emphasis on the impact of synthetic oral contraceptives on inflammation, micronutrient depletion, changes in the gut microbiome, and libido. We also talk about changes that occur in the body during perimenopause and menopause.\xa0\nI loved having this discussion with Dr. Vora! You can follow her on social media and check out her book, The Anatomy of Anxiety!\xa0\nStay tuned for more!\n\nIN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:\n\nAs a society, we have experienced a lot of stress and loss recently. Dr. Vora discusses the themes she observed with her patients and loved ones over the last two years.\n\nDr. Vora describes the two extremes she noticed in parents during the pandemic.\n\nHow should parents deal with their feelings in front of their kids in difficult times like the pandemic?\n\nWays to cultivate and support resilience.\n\nDr. Vora explains what happens when we fail to process or articulate our feelings or avoid uncomfortable feelings.\n\nAddiction in adults is often a way to self-soothe or seek comfort.\n\nAt times, parents should step back and allow their children to process and work through their problems.\n\nSometimes, the big feelings people experience are physiological and avoidable.\n\nHow do blood sugar dysregulation and hypoglycemia or high blood sugar and insulin resistance impact our feelings and behavior?\n\nHow gut health pertains to our brain and anxiety.\n\nWhy do we crave gluten and dairy?\n\nBlood sugar is critical to the functioning of the brain.\n\nFinding a balance between food addictions and orthorexia.\n\nThe impact of synthetic hormones on our physiology and our mental and emotional health.\n\nCoping with the profound changes that occur in the body during perimenopause and menopause.\n\n\xa0\n\nConnect with Cynthia Thurlow\n\nFollow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn\n\n\nCheck out Cynthia\u2019s website\xa0\n\n\nConnect with Dr. Ellen Vora\n\nOn her website\xa0\n\nOn social media: @ellenvoramd\n\n\nGet Dr. Vora\u2019s book, The Anatomy of Anxiety\n\nBooks mentioned:\nPermission to Feel: Unlocking the Power of Emotions to Help Our Kids, Ourselves, and Our Society Thrive by Marc Brackett\nAtlas of the Heart by Brene Brown