Register for my 2020 Virtual Mental Health Solutions Summit here:https://www.drleafconference.com  **Early bird tickets end October 15  

Sign up to join my free text program and receive mental health care tips and strategies, exclusive offers and more! Just text DRLEAF to 1 (833) 285 3747 (*Only available for U.S numbers at this time) 

Show Description: 

Human mental health is infinitely complex. We all battle in different ways, we all struggle, and we all need to learn how to cope, process, feel and experience life’s ups and downs. The fundamental way we do this is by listening to the signals our brain and body send us, like anxiety and depression, and getting to the root of what these mental and physical symptoms are telling us about the imbalance in our life.

In this podcast I speak with holistic board-certified psychiatrist, acupuncturist and yoga teacher Dr. Ellen Vora about how it is possible to learn to understand and manage our mental health by embracing these signals and listening to what they have to say, how facing the root of our fears and anxiety helps us find true healing, what a functional medicine approach to mental health looks like, why the current system of mental healthcare needs to change, the relationship between psychotropic medication, withdrawal and mental health, and more!

For more info on Dr. Ellen visit: www.ellenvora.com.

Follow her on social media: @ellenvoramd

Read the show blog here: https://drleaf.com/blogs/news/how-to-begin-finding-the-root-issue-of-your-anxiety-depression-everything-you-need-to-know-about-tapering-off-medication-with-psychiatrist-dr-ellen-vora

 **Special offers from this episode's sponsors** 

-International Justice Mission: For just $45, you can provide trauma-informed therapy that will change a child's life. Head to https://IJM.org/DrLeaf, and help vulnerable children heal by giving the gift of therapy today.  

-Plushcare: PlushCare makes it easier than ever to take care of yourself, inside and out. Start your membership today. Go to https://PlushCare.com/drleaf to start your FREE 30-day trial.     

Podcast Highlights

6:00 Why Ellen went from being an English major at Yale to studying mental health

12:30 The questions you should be asking your anxiety or depression to find the root issue(s)

22:00 Why it’s vital to look at anxiety and depression as warning signals NOT diseases, and how to identity these warning signals early

35:48 What role medications play in mental health and the chemical imbalance myth

51:41 How psychiatric drugs change our brains, why withdrawal is so difficult and how we can make the process easier

1:02:44 How the mental healthcare system is starting to change for the better & how you can take charge of your mental health

**Pre-order my new mental self-care tips book here for less 20%: https://drleaf.com/collections/all/products/101-ways-to-be-less-stressed  

-Get my new brain detox app SWITCH on sale now! Get 50% off a 3 month subscription. Just look for Switch on Your Brain in the App Store or Google Play or visit: https://theswitch.app  

-Visit my website at https://drleaf.com for more free resources, tips, and tools to help you improve and heal your mental health!  

-Instagram: @drcarolineleaf: https://www.instagram.com/drcarolineleaf/ 

-Facebook: Dr. Caroline Leaf: https://www.facebook.com/drleaf

 -Twitter: @drcarolineleaf: https://twitter.com/DrCarolineLeaf 

-Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/drcarolineleaf