Welcome to the Phoenix Helix podcast dedicated to maximizing autoimmune health through the paleo

diet and lifestyle. While there is no cure for autoimmune disease, the choices we make every day

can have a powerful impact on how we feel. I'm Eileen Laird, your host from PhoenixHelix.com, and I reduced my

rheumatoid arthritis pain by 95%, which took me from a life of excruciating

pain and disability back to a full and beautiful life. A short disclaimer, I'm neither a doctor

nor a nutritionist and the opinions expressed here are personal. Always consult with your

health care team before making medical decisions. Now let's get on to the show.

Welcome to episode 136. Our topic today is loneliness. When we feel lonely or isolated, it can seem like we're the only person experiencing it. But loneliness has become an epidemic with millions of people around the world feeling this way. And it's not surprising that loneliness is emotionally painful, but did you know that it also carries physical health risks.

It's been compared to smoking 15 cigarettes a day in terms of the negative impact it can

have on health and longevity. For people with autoimmune disease, I'm guessing the percentage of lonely

people is even higher, since chronic illness can be an isolating experience. And then during the

holidays, these feelings can intensify even more. So while the statistics might be a little scary,

my goal isn't to depress anyone. Instead, we're going to be sharing practical tips for

overcoming feelings of loneliness and expanding our social connections again. My guest is Dr. Ellen Vora.

She is a psychiatrist who takes a functional medicine approach to mental health, and I'm very

excited to have her on the show today. Welcome, Ellen.

Thanks, Eileen. It's so good to be here.

This is such an important conversation and I'm really looking forward to going deep into it today.

But before we do that, let's give a shout out to our podcast sponsor, Paleo on the Go.

They are a frozen meal delivery service and 100% of their menu is compliant with the elimination phase of the paleo autoimmune protocol. And today I actually want to tell you about their meal

bundles. The holidays are a busy season. So if you want to take some of the pressure off by

stocking some easy, delicious, and healthy food in your freezer, their meal bundles are a great way

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