In our latest episode of BOJANA MD podcast, I am joined by Dr. Victoria Maizes to dive deep into integrative approaches to healing anxiety. Nearly 20% of adults in the U.S. have anxiety. In our practice, we see this much more frequently and treat it as a vital part of healthcare and longevity optimization.
At its core, anxiety begins as a protective mechanism. It originates as the body’s way of alerting us to discomfort with our situation, uncertainty, or potential danger. But when that response becomes persistent, heightened, and impairs our ability to function optimally, it’s counterproductive — it can impact our sleep, digestion, hormones, immune function, focus, memory and overall quality of life.
Many people experience frustration with themselves for not being able to “just move past it.” In clinical practice, I see this often. Sometimes reducing stress can help us better manage anxiety, but it’s not always realistic to reduce stress. What we can do is learn to respond to it in ways that are more regulated, supported, and empowering. We want to find safety and trust and regulate our nervous system even in situations where stress and uncertainty prevail.
From supplements, to movement, to breathwork and vagus nerve devices, Dr. Maizes and I discuss the wide variety of tools available within integrative medicine to support the innate healing power we carry within us.
Victoria Maizes, MD is the founding executive director of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine and a professor of medicine, family medicine, and public health at the University of Arizona. An internationally recognized leader in integrative medicine, Dr. Maizes lectures worldwide to academic and community audiences on women’s health, vitality, environmental health, nutrition, and cancer.
Her latest book, Heal Faster, explores the concept that complete recovery is possible for a wide range of conditions when you know how to support your body’s natural healing processes. From short-term ailments—like colds and sprains—to chronic conditions—like asthma and diabetes—to recovering from surgery, this book offers evidence-based strategies that can help speed up your healing and recovery.