339: Anxiety Explained: Hormones, Vagus Nerve & Gut Health | Dr. Nicole Cain

Listen to this episode from Be Well by Kelly Leveque on Spotify. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Nicole Cain to talk about her integrative, trauma-informed approach to anxiety and mental wellness. We explore how anxiety shows up in the body—through our thoughts, hormones, immune system, and gut—and what it takes to truly heal at the root.Nicole shares insights from her book Panic Proof along with powerful tools like EMDR, hormone testing, and Ayurveda. Whether you're navigating anxiety yourself or supporting someone who is, this conversation is packed with practical, whole-person strategies to find calm and reclaim your mental health.Leave Us A Voice Message! | https://telbee.io/channel/4_b9zzx58wdkuwirqkcxwa/Topics Discussed:What is the root cause of anxiety and how can it be healed naturally?How does gut health affect mental health and anxiety?What is Dr. Nicole Cain’s approach to managing anxiety with integrative medicine?What is the connection between hormone imbalances and anxiety symptoms?Sponsored By:Be Well By Kelly Protein Powder & Essentials | Get $10 off your order with PODCAST10 at bewellbykelly.com.AG1 | Get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D3+K2 AND 5 free AG1 Travel Packs with your first subscription at drinkAG1.com/bewell.Jesse & Ben's | Right now, you can visit jesseandbens.com/bewell for a special deal.OneSkin | Visit oneskin.co/BEWELL and use code BEWELL for 15% off your first purchase.Timestamps:00:00:00 - Introduction 00:00:00 – Episode intro with Dr. Nicole Cain00:01:41 – What is anxiety? Root causes explained00:05:49 – Kelly’s personal anxiety journey00:09:02 – Understanding the window of tolerance00:10:36 – Anxiety, autonomy, and creative power00:13:22 – Why suppressed emotions intensify anxiety00:14:37 – Dr. Nicole’s story of living with anxiety00:19:30 – What is thought anxiety?00:24:32 – Tools to overcome thought anxiety00:26:02 – Endocrine anxiety and stress hormones00:32:21 – Hormonal imbalance, anxiety & HRT00:35:35 – DUTCH testing00:37:21 – Immune system’s link to anxiety00:40:34 – Gut-brain axis and mental health00:42:13 – Lifestyle changes for anxiety relief00:43:32 – Dr. Nicole’s full intake process00:49:31 – Using Ayurveda and Kapha for anxiety00:51:58 – Exercises to calm anxiety naturally00:57:55 – Brain science: prefrontal cortex vs. lizard brain01:01:55 – Interoception and body awareness01:06:28 – How to become panic proofFurther Listening:Prioritizing Hormonal Health with Dr. Carrie JonesCheck Out Dr. Nicole: InstagramBook - To Shop