Anxiety Is a Message, Not a Malfunction: Understanding False and True Anxiety
- Dr. Kate Kresge
- May 15
- 3 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Introduction: Reframing Anxiety as an Invitation
What if anxiety isn’t something to fear or fix, but something to understand?
In this transformative episode of The Root Cause Medicine Podcast, I sat down with the brilliant Dr. Ellen Vora—a Colombia-trained holistic psychiatrist—to explore a revolutionary way of understanding anxiety. Rather than viewing it as a disorder to medicate, Dr. Vora invites us to consider anxiety as a signal from the body or soul, guiding us toward healing.
Together, we break down her signature framework of false (avoidable) and true (purposeful) anxiety and how to use this lens to empower your clients—and yourself—toward real mental wellness.
False Anxiety: When the Body Cries Out
False anxiety isn't "fake"—it's very real. It’s just avoidable, driven by physiological imbalances like:
Blood sugar crashes
Nutrient deficiencies
Inflammation
Sleep disruption
Gut dysbiosis
Hormonal shifts
These root causes can send stress signals that manifest as racing thoughts, panic attacks, and restlessness. The tragedy? Dr. Ellen says that many people are misdiagnosed, medicated, and left without answers when what they need is blood sugar stability and gut support.
Quick Wins for False Anxiety:
Balance blood sugar with more protein, healthy fats, and real food (ditch the frappuccino breakfast!)
Rebuild nutrient stores—think B6, B12, folate, iron, vitamin D, magnesium
Investigate the gut—many clients lack GABA-producing microbes
Optimize sleep through circadian rhythm support and nasal breathing
Functional labs like Hemoglobin A1C, microbiome testing, and thyroid panels are incredibly valuable here.
Favorite Functional Labs Mentioned
Thyroid markers (TSH, T3, T4, antibodies)
Blood sugar tests (fasting glucose, insulin, A1C)
Microbiome testing (for GABA producers)
Cytokine and inflammation panels
Nutrient status (B vitamins, iron, D, magnesium)
These tests don’t just diagnose—they guide the healing journey.
True Anxiety: A Compass for the Soul
True anxiety, on the other hand, is your internal GPS saying, “Hey, something’s not right.”
It shows up when your life is out of alignment—when you're in the wrong job, relationship, or lifestyle. Suppressing this kind of anxiety misses the point. Instead, we need to listen.
Supporting Clients Through True Anxiety:
Encourage stillness and curiosity
Validate their emotional experience
Create space for meaning and purpose to emerge
As Dr. Vora says, “Feelings aren’t facts, but they aren’t hysterical falsehoods either.” They're messengers.
A Note on Medications and Benzos
Dr. Vora bravely highlights how benzodiazepines, though sometimes necessary, often worsen the problem long-term. They can suppress natural GABA production and create dependency.
She recommends a tapering strategy with:
Nervous system regulation (breathwork, acupuncture)
Detox support (saunas, Epsom salt baths)
Nutrient repletion (GABA, inositol, phosphatidylcholine)
And of course—never taper without a supportive, knowledgeable practitioner.
Functional Psychiatry: Where Hope Begins
Here’s what sets this conversation apart: it brings hope back to the anxiety conversation. Clients aren’t “broken”—they’re often biochemically imbalanced or spiritually unaligned.
And most importantly: Mental health is physical health.
If there’s one takeaway from this episode, it's this: Anxiety is not the end of the road—it’s the beginning of an inquiry. I highly recommend Dr. Ellen Vora's book The Anatomy of Anxiety and our podcast conversation for anyone who's looking to learn more. You can also follow her at ellenvora.com or @ellenvoramd on instagram.
References
Vora, E. The Anatomy of Anxiety. Harper Wave, 2022.
Holton KF et al. “Micronutrient inadequacies in the US population.” Nutrients, 2016.
Cryan JF, Dinan TG. “Mind-altering microorganisms: the impact of the gut microbiota on brain and behaviour.” Nat Rev Neurosci, 2012.
Lopresti AL et al. “Inflammation and mental health.” Psychiatry Clin Neurosci, 2014.
