New Approach Links Anxiety to Body Health

Growing public openness about mental health has begun to reshape how anxiety and depression are understood, moving the conversation beyond stigma toward practical strategies for prevention and care. Against this backdrop, psychiatrist Ellen Vora is urging a broader rethink of anxiety, arguing that its roots often lie as much in the body as in the mind.

In her book The Anatomy of Anxiety, Vora presents a view that challenges the long held belief that anxiety is primarily the result of a fixed chemical imbalance. Instead, she describes it as a condition frequently shaped by physical imbalances that can be addressed through lifestyle changes.

“Anxiety is not simply a genetic chemical imbalance,” she said, explaining that many symptoms arise from what she calls “false anxiety,” a state driven by bodily stress rather than enduring psychological causes.

Central to her argument is the constant exchange between brain and body. While many people accept that anxious thoughts can trigger physical reactions, she says the reverse is less appreciated. Poor diet, chronic stress and environmental factors can disrupt the gut, sending distress signals to the brain and heightening feelings of unease.

“When our physical body is out of balance, it tells our brain to feel anxious,” she noted.

Her clinical observations also point to a close link between anxiety and depression, with patients often experiencing both conditions in tandem. In some cases, prolonged anxiety can drain emotional reserves, leading to depressive states.

“Both are manifestations of the brain saying, ‘I’m not OK,’” she said.

Vora places significant emphasis on nutrition as a first line of defence. Stabilising blood sugar, she explained, can quickly reduce symptoms that mimic panic. Diets high in refined carbohydrates can produce spikes and crashes that feel indistinguishable from anxiety. Adjusting eating habits to include more protein and healthy fats can help regulate these fluctuations and provide relief.

Beyond diet, she encourages practices that allow the body to release accumulated stress. Activities such as exercise, creative expression or even simple physical movements can help “complete the stress cycle,” signalling to the nervous system that a threat has passed. She also recommends controlled breathing techniques, including the 4 7 8 method, as a way to calm the body. “Breathing as if we’re relaxed sends a message to the brain that the organism is calm,” she said.

Rather than promoting rigid routines, Vora advocates a balanced approach grounded in real, minimally processed food and consistent moments of relaxation. Over time, she suggests, these habits can create a reliable pathway back to calm, helping individuals manage anxiety more effectively in daily life.

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