339: Anxiety Explained: Hormones, Vagus Nerve & Gut Health | Dr. Nicole Cain
339: Anxiety Explained: Hormones, Vagus Nerve & Gut Health | Dr. Nicole Cain  
Podcast: Be Well by Kelly Leveque
Published On: Wed May 28 2025
Description: 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 Cain 00:01:41 – What is anxiety? Root causes explained 00:05:49 – Kelly’s personal anxiety journey 00:09:02 – Understanding the window of tolerance 00:10:36 – Anxiety, autonomy, and creative power 00:13:22 – Why suppressed emotions intensify anxiety 00:14:37 – Dr. Nicole’s story of living with anxiety 00:19:30 – What is thought anxiety? 00:24:32 – Tools to overcome thought anxiety 00:26:02 – Endocrine anxiety and stress hormones 00:32:21 – Hormonal imbalance, anxiety & HRT 00:35:35 – DUTCH testing 00:37:21 – Immune system’s link to anxiety 00:40:34 – Gut-brain axis and mental health 00:42:13 – Lifestyle changes for anxiety relief 00:43:32 – Dr. Nicole’s full intake process 00:49:31 – Using Ayurveda and Kapha for anxiety 00:51:58 – Exercises to calm anxiety naturally 00:57:55 – Brain science: prefrontal cortex vs. lizard brain 01:01:55 – Interoception and body awareness 01:06:28 – How to become panic proof Further Listening: Prioritizing Hormonal Health with Dr. Carrie Jones Check Out Dr. Nicole:  Instagram Book - To Shop Website Check Out Kelly:  Instagram YouTube Facebook