The New Science Of Depression & How To Actually Heal (+ SSRIs, Postpartum, Grief, and More)

14 snips

Apr 30, 2025

Ellen Vora, a board-certified psychiatrist and bestselling author, shares her holistic approach to mental health. She challenges the notion that depression is solely a chemical imbalance, emphasizing the importance of root causes like inflammation and gut health. The discussion touches on SSRIs, postpartum depression, and the emotional power of grief. Ellen advocates for community support and spirituality, urging listeners to embrace their feelings and consider lifestyle changes for improved mental well-being.

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INSIGHT

Crying as Healing, False Moods Explained

Hormonal cycles cause false moods that feel very real but are temporary.
Emotional crying is medicinal and helps metabolize stress and grief.

ANECDOTE

Personal Grief Experience Shared

Ellen Vora shared her personal experience of deep grief after losing her mother during pregnancy.
She emphasizes the importance of making space for mourning despite life's demands.

INSIGHT

Spirituality Protects Mental Health

Spirituality broadly defined is protective against depression.
Contemplating transcendence and the cosmos fosters mental well-being.

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Mental health isn’t one-size-fits-all. Most of us have learned that depression is a chemical imbalance that works like a disease - you either have it or you don’t, and if you do you can seek treatment through psychiatric medication. While this model of depression has helped destigmatize mental illness, it also has its limits. Today, I’m speaking to Ellen Vora, MD, about new approaches to treating depression and mental health tips.

If you want to cut past the noise and finally get to the root cause of your depression, this episode is for you. Ellen and I discuss SSRIs, birth control, inflammation, and more – and as always, we’re giving you tips you can implement now to help with your depression.

In this episode, we get into:

Is It Normal To Feel Sad All the Time?

Genetic Components in Depression

How SSRIs Work

False Moods

SSRI Withdrawal

Dealing with Grief

Spirituality & Mental Health

Postpartum Depression

Physical Root Causes of Depression

Finding Your Root Cause

Should You Test for Thyroid Problems?

Hormonal Birth Control, AKA The Pill

Finding Community

PMDD

Your Gut and Your Brain

For more from Ellen Vora, find her on Instagram @ellenvoramd, online at https://ellenvora.com/, and get Ellen’s book The Anatomy of Anxiety here.

Ready to uplevel every part of your life? Order Liz’s book 100 Ways to Change Your Life: The Science of Leveling Up Health, Happiness, Relationships & Success now!

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Check out the previous episode of The Liz Moody Podcast discussed today: Ask The Doctor: Anxiety Edition—Everything You Need To Know About Treating Anxiety Naturally with Ellen Vora, MD

This episode is sponsored by:

Maui Nui: head to mauinuivenison.com/LIZ to secure your access to a limited collection of Liz’s favorite nutrient-dense wildly delicious meat cuts and products.

The Liz Moody Podcast cover art by Zack. The Liz Moody Podcast music by Alex Ruimy.

Formerly the Healthier Together Podcast.

This podcast and website represents the opinions of Liz Moody and her guests to the show. The content here should not be taken as medical advice. The content here is for information purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.

The Liz Moody Podcast Episode 325.

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