Blog.

Do You Have ADHD and Not Know It?

by Ellen Vora, MD on Jul 3, 2019 / Share

Originally published in one medical

Most of us who lead busy, stressful lives with demanding jobs meet criteria for one or all symptoms of ADHD at some point.

It’s human nature to occasionally procrastinate or to have difficulty staying on task when we’re doing mentally demanding work.

The problem is only exacerbated by the current state of surround-sound technological distractions. Video games and Facebook are more ‘rewarding’ to the brain than reading through a legal brief, so it’s understandable why our tired, overworked brains are weak in the face of this temptation.

Why Quitting Junk Food Can Feel Similar To Quitting Drugs

by Ellen Vora, MD on Jul 1, 2019 / Share

Originally published in mindbodygreen

Bingeing on sugar and other addictive foods is culturally condoned, food company-induced drug addiction.

At the neurobiological level, the neural substrates of sugar and sweet reward appear to be more robust than those of cocaine.

The Biggest Voices In Wellness Gather This Weekend At Revitalize

by Ellen Vora, MD on Jun 28, 2019 / Share

Originally published in mindbodygreen

It’s that time of year again! I’m one of hundreds of wellness leaders and enthusiasts in Dove Mountain, Arizona, discussing the biggest health issues the world is facing today.

The big buzzwords at this mindbodygreen annual event will be “longevity” and “consciousness.” We’ll be stepping back to take a look at what it truly means to live long and live well.

I join Melissa Hartwig Urban, Whole 30 founder; Molly Maloof, M.D., personalized medicine physician; and Rich Roll, author, athlete, and plant-based pioneer in talking mind-altering drugs and their impact on consciousness and the collective community. What role should psychedelics play in wellness? How much do we actually understand about these substances? Who can benefit from them the most? These are just some of the questions we’ll tackle on the main stage.

The Magic Bedtime Window For A Restful Night’s Sleep

by Ellen Vora, MD on Jun 26, 2019 / Share

Originally published in mindbodygreen

One recurring problem I hear over and over again from my patients is that they have difficulty falling asleep. More specifically, they can’t shut off their minds. Thoughts are racing, preventing them from relaxing or falling asleep. What inevitably follows is the vicious cycle of stressing about not falling asleep, which amps up anxiety and makes it even harder to fall asleep. Sound familiar?

I could tell you the key to slowing the mind at bedtime is to reduce stress in your life (which is true), but I know firsthand that managing stress is easier said than done. We’re not going to solve the multidimensional problem of daily stress this moment. But there’s another cause of racing thoughts at bedtime that is much more easily remedied: being overtired.

THIS Is The Healthiest Food You Can Buy At A Gas Station

by Ellen Vora, MD on Jun 24, 2019 / Share

Originally published in mindbodygreen

This is a great and challenging question. In gas-station extremis, I’ll usually grab a seltzer or coconut water and a little baggie of almonds. And then I’ll make a mental note to pack plentiful healthy car snacks for the next road trip.

What Is Postpartum Anxiety?

by Ellen Vora, MD on Jun 21, 2019 / Share

Originally published in mindbodygreen

Anxiety can be a component of postpartum depression, but it also occurs on its own. Even when someone doesn’t meet diagnostic criteria for one of these disorders, there can be significant shifts in mood and anxiety levels in the post-natal period.

So, how can new moms deal with and treat postpartum anxiety? While you should never hesitate to seek professional help, here are my suggestions to help you get started…

mindbodygreen’s Revitalize 2019

by Ellen Vora, MD on Jun 20, 2019 / Share

So excited to be speaking at mindbodygreen’s Revitalize conference next weekend. What an honor.

I’m showing up with a clear intention to speak my truth in the name of helping heal the ways we all get out of balance. And I can’t wait to meet so many of my health heroes, like Melissa Hartwig Urban and Rich Roll, and to reconnect with old friends like Dr. Will Cole and Dr. Frank Lipman.
#mbgrevitalize

New Research Shows Artificial Sweeteners Are Making You Gain Weight

by Ellen Vora, MD on Jun 17, 2019 / Share

Originally published in mindbodygreen

I recommend reaching for a jar of almond butter instead. Keep a jar on hand at work, at home, and in your bag, and feed yourself a spoonful a few times throughout the day. This will ensure steady blood sugar, warding off any blood sugar crashes that can make you go scavenge for a hit of sugar.

4 Simple Room Changes To Make For A Great Night’s Sleep: A Doctor Explains

by Ellen Vora, MD on Jun 14, 2019 / Share

Originally published in mindbodygreen

How you set up your room can make or break a good night’s sleep. In short, if you want your bedroom to promote good sleep, it needs to be pitch-black dark, cooler than you think, quiet, and it should feel minimal.

Here’s a crash course on how to create the perfect bedroom for deep sleep:

Overthinking SoulCycle

by Ellen Vora, MD on Jun 13, 2019 / Share

I went to a SoulCycle class with some friends. I’m out of shape, so here’s where my defensive, panting-for-breath mind wandered to while trying to hide and not die in the back row… First, a caveat: if you enjoy SoulCycle, fabulous! I realize a lot of people get tremendous benefits from it, like a great workout, community, affordable psychotherapy, and a light dose of spirituality. I’m all for this.

BUT! Do we really need to be YELLED at to push ourselves any more than we already do in this hustle burnout culture? As the people-pleaser/overachiever that I am, when someone says, “stand up, push, give it your all”, I’m inclined to obey. But every time I obediently pushed harder, it felt like a betrayal of all the work I’ve done to cultivate mindfulness in my life. Being told to push is at odds with listening to our bodies. I know I’m not the only people-pleaser out there who will do what the teacher says, even if it means pushing past your body’s pleas to take it easy.

There’s a tension between pushing ourselves in a healthy, life-affirming way, being gentle with ourselves, and doing what people ask of us.
We’re in an epidemic of burnout–we’re being asked to push ourselves beyond healthy limits at work and in life logistics. We’ve trained ourselves to ignore our body’s limits 9 to 5; I’m not crazy about tacking on an additional 45-min of “pushing” during my leisure time.

I personally would respond better to an instructor who encouraged me to push at ~85% effort, trust my body, and ease off when I’ve hit a limit. I suppose I’m describing yoga.

If you feel I just had an anomalous, bad SoulCycle experience, I’m totally open to hearing evidence to the contrary.

For now, I’ll be saving my $$. If you love SoulCycle, keep loving it! For anyone out there who goes to these classes and finds yourself obeying the instructor’s commands over honoring your body’s limits, and the voice inside you is quietly asking you to NOT push yourself any more than you already do in your life, I’m here to give you permission to listen to that voice and be gentle with yourself. See you at yoga :).