Anxiety: What to Do When Labs are Normal with Dr. Ellen Vora
September 4, 2025
In this episode, Dr. Kate Kresge is joined by Dr. Ellen Vora to explore holistic approaches to anxiety beyond physiological root causes. They discuss how mindful movement, play, connection, and emotional regulation—such as cry therapy—can serve as powerful tools in managing true anxiety. Emphasizing the importance of integrating mind, body, and spirit, this conversation offers practical strategies for clinicians and individuals looking to deepen their understanding and treatment of anxiety.
300 "Anxiety: What to Do When Labs are Normal" with Dr. Ellen Vora
In this episode, Dr. Kate Kresge is joined by Dr. Ellen Vora to explore holistic approaches to anxiety beyond physiological root causes. They discuss how mindful movement, play, connection, and emotional regulation—such as cry therapy—can serve as powerful tools in managing true anxiety. Emphasizing the importance of integrating mind, body, and spirit, this conversation offers practical strategies for clinicians and individuals looking to deepen their understanding and treatment of anxiety.
You'll hear them discuss:
- The role of exercise, especially dance, in improving mood and mental health
- How movement combined with music influences the nervous system
- Differentiating between false (physiological) and true (purposeful) anxiety
- Practical tools for body-based emotional regulation, like shaking and breathwork
- The importance of play and joy in healing and well-being
- Cultivating social connection as a form of emotional detox
- Techniques for letting go of unresolved grief and practicing emotional detox
- The neuroscience behind crying and its healing effects
- The significance of embracing vulnerability and levity in mental health
Guest Introduction:
Dr. Ellen Vora is a Yale and Columbia-trained psychiatrist, author of The Anatomy of Anxiety, and a pioneer in holistic mental health approaches. She incorporates functional medicine, neurobiology, and spiritual insights to address anxiety and emotional well-being, emphasizing that mental health is deeply interconnected with physical health and lifestyle.
Dr. Ellen Vora is a Yale and Columbia-trained psychiatrist, author of The Anatomy of Anxiety, and a pioneer in holistic mental health approaches. She incorporates functional medicine, neurobiology, and spiritual insights to address anxiety and emotional well-being, emphasizing that mental health is deeply interconnected with physical health and lifestyle.
Labs Mentioned:
- Hemoglobin A1C
- Folate and B12 levels
- Vitamin D levels
- Red blood cell magnesium levels
- GI mapping
- Inflammatory markers
Supplements Mentioned:
- Magnesium
- Folate
Guest and Sponsor Details:
- Dr. Ellen Vora's Website
- The Anatomy of Anxiety Book
- Fullscript (sponsor): fullscript.com
Timestamps:
- 00:00 Introduction & Exercise as a Mood Booster
- 01:31 Overview of Practicing Whole Person Care with Fullscript
- 03:32 Recap of physio-psychological approach to anxiety
- 05:30 Lifestyle interventions for anxiety (sleep, blood sugar)
- 07:05 Addressing persistent anxiety after physiological stabilization
- 09:18 Understanding true vs. false anxiety
- 11:20 Honoring purposeful anxiety and making space for it
- 13:10 The role of social connection and community
- 15:34 Disarming control and embracing impermanence
- 19:42 Movement, shaking, and emotional release techniques
- 23:58 The neuroscience of joy, singing, and play
- 36:17 Reclaiming joy and levity in adult life
- 43:04 Connection as a remedy for loneliness and social support
- 47:46 Cultivating a grounding community influence
- 49:48 Letting go: grief, tears, and emotional detox
- 54:26 Crying as a healing tool and emotional release
- 55:49 Final thoughts and where to find Ellen