On December 13, 2022, students from the S. Daniel Abraham Honors Program at Stern College for Women attended a unique event with Holistic Psychiatrist, Dr. Ellen Vora. Dr. Vora, an acupuncturist and yoga instructor, introduced them to a new approach to managing anxiety.
Anxiety is higher in younger women, Dr. Vora told students, and encouraged them to find ways to lower their stress levels. She elaborated on the latter by explaining to her students, “It’s often taught to be our genes and brain chemistry.” They emphasized getting enough sleep, keeping blood sugar at safe levels, and reducing exercise, inflammation, trauma, and ongoing stressors. She also recommended that doing community service can help reduce anxiety.
During her talk, Dr. Vera explored some of the physiological responses that occur in the body due to stress, and emphasized the importance of exercise and creative pursuits to alleviate them. She explained that good nutrition through physical therapy was an important factor in lowering stress levels, and encouraged her students to increase their consumption of protein and healthy fats. gave excellent advice, such as eating a spoonful of almond butter an hour and a half before snacking. rice field. Rather, it’s a process. She encouraged her students not to put undue pressure on themselves, stressed the importance of showing up, giving their best, and being proud of their efforts so far.
“Hons put a lot of pressure on themselves, especially,” comments Cynthia Wachtel, Ph.D., director of the Honors Program. “I am very pleased that Dr. Vola was able to introduce students to a wide range of strategies for reducing anxiety and, more broadly, to consider the interrelationship between anxiety and anatomy. It can be a time of high stress, and I hope this helps lower that stress index.
Thanks to Avery Allen for his help in writing this article.
