The Psychology of Depression and Anxiety - Dr. Scott Eilers

There are people who understand depression and anxiety on a personal level and there are people who understand depression and anxiety on a medical level. There are relatively few people who understand both, and I’m one of them. As a clinical psychologist I have a doctorate degree and thousands of hours of professional experience providing treatment for mood and anxiety disorders. I also have 39 years of personal experience managing mood and anxiety disorders as I myself deal with these struggles. This podcast is my attempt to synthesize my personal knowledge with my professional knowledge.

5 Coping Skills For Depression You (Probably) Aren’t Using - But Should Be!

Thank you to Function Health for sponsoring this video! Visit them here and use code DRSCOTT100 at sign-up to own your health. The first 1000 get a $100 credit toward their membership.If you’ve tried everything to manage your depression — therapy, mindfulness, better sleep — and you’re still not where you want to be, this video is for you.I’m sharing five lesser-known but powerful treatment techniques that help when the basics aren’t enough. From exposure therapy for joy to assertiveness training and physical health evaluations, these are the tools I’ve seen change lives — including my own.For those living with moderate to severe depression who feel stuck despite doing “all the right things,” these deep-cut strategies can help you rebuild hope and find real progress again. Get my ⁠5-day guide to reclaiming your time and energy despite mental health struggles⁠.Get Practical tools for navigating life with depression and anxiety, delivered weekly⁠⁠⁠.⁠3 Unique ways to work with me⁠⁠Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps⁠⁠ with my new Sleep Workbook.⁠⁠⁠My book: For When Everything is Burning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with me on TikTok⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠Disclaimer: This content is not intended to be a replacement for receiving treatment. It is purely educational in nature. My relationship with you is that of presenter and audience, not therapist and client.But I do care.

10-13
15:40

Why Do We Hold On To Things That Hurt Us? (Sunk Cost Fallacy Explained)

Sometimes we stay in jobs, relationships, or situations long after they’ve stopped serving us — not because we don’t see the truth, but because walking away makes the loss feel real. That’s the power of sunk cost fallacy, one of the most common (and painful) psychological traps we fall into.In this video, I explain why our brains resist letting go, how the “pain of realized loss” keeps us stuck, and why that pain doesn’t actually mean what you think it does. You’ll also learn about inverse sunk cost fallacy — the belief that you’ve missed your window — and how to break out of both.If you’ve ever wondered why it’s so hard to leave something behind or start something new, this video will help you understand what’s really happening in your mind — and how to move forward with less guilt and more clarity.Proud to team up with Get Joy! Their Freeze Dried Raw meals are crafted for better digestion, more energy, and happier days together because joy starts from within. Visit https://getjoy.yt.link/H6CRnTC to try it for yourself.Use code: youtube50Get my ⁠5-day guide to reclaiming your time and energy despite mental health struggles⁠.Get Practical tools for navigating life with depression and anxiety, delivered weekly⁠⁠⁠.⁠3 Unique ways to work with me⁠⁠Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps⁠⁠ with my new Sleep Workbook.⁠⁠⁠My book: For When Everything is Burning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with me on TikTok⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠Disclaimer: This content is not intended to be a replacement for receiving treatment. It is purely educational in nature. My relationship with you is that of presenter and audience, not therapist and client.But I do care.

10-10
17:00

Why You Can Never Force Yourself To Do Anything

Ever been stuck in that cycle where the more you pressure yourself to start, the less you actually get done? You tell yourself to “just do it,” but your brain shuts down instead — and the guilt hits even harder.In this video, I explain why that happens, what the Yerkes–Dodson Law has to do with your motivation, and how lowering the pressure (not raising it) might actually be the key to getting things done.Get my ⁠5-day guide to reclaiming your time and energy despite mental health struggles⁠.Get Practical tools for navigating life with depression and anxiety, delivered weekly⁠⁠⁠.⁠3 Unique ways to work with me⁠⁠Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps⁠⁠ with my new Sleep Workbook.⁠⁠⁠My book: For When Everything is Burning⁠⁠⁠The caffeine-lite option for long-term boost in mood, cognition, motivation and stress management.Use Code SCOTT20 for 20% of your order.⁠⁠⁠Connect with me on TikTok⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠Disclaimer: This content is not intended to be a replacement for receiving treatment. It is purely educational in nature. My relationship with you is that of presenter and audience, not therapist and client.But I do care.

10-06
14:52

Why Do So Many People With Depression Not Get Better In Therapy?

Before you dig into your past, process trauma, or try advanced therapy techniques, there’s a more important question to ask:Is my brain healthy enough to feel good in the first place?In this video, I break down the 3 emotional ranges we all experience—from survival mode, to being stuck in negative emotions, to finally experiencing more positive ones. You’ll learn why so many people stay trapped in the middle range, and how sleep, nutrition, movement, and substance use can make or break your ability to feel better.This isn’t about quick fixes or motivational slogans. It’s about facing the real, physical foundation of mental health—and finally giving yourself a chance to heal.Thank you to Function Health ( @functionhealth ) for sponsoring this video! Visit https://functionhealth.yt.link/bAnljeL or use code DRSCOTT100 at sign-up to own your health. The first 1000 get a $100 credit toward their membership.#FunctionPartner

09-29
17:42

If You Don’t Know How To Stop Having Panic Attacks, Please Watch This Video

Stress less, sleep more, and live better with Calm. Use code drscott for 40% off your Calm premium subscription today.Panic attacks don’t just end when they’re over—they leave you living in fear of the next one. And that fear? It actually makes panic attacks more likely.In this video, I break down the vicious cycle of panic attacks—and why trying not to have one often backfires. More importantly, you’ll learn practical, science-based tools to recover faster and reduce their grip on your life.

09-22
20:42

How To Operationalize Your Mental Health

I’ve been in therapy as both a client and a therapist. I know how confusing and contradictory it can feel.If therapy has ever left you without a roadmap, this is my attempt to give you one. These are science-based, practical steps you can use today.In this video, I break down the four resources that run your mental health: time, energy, attention, and money. I’ll show you how to treat your life like a research project.Get my ⁠5-day guide to reclaiming your time and energy despite mental health struggles⁠.Get Practical tools for navigating life with depression and anxiety, delivered weekly⁠⁠⁠.⁠3 Unique ways to work with me⁠⁠Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps⁠⁠ with my new Sleep Workbook.⁠⁠⁠My book: For When Everything is Burning⁠⁠⁠The caffeine-lite option for long-term boost in mood, cognition, motivation and stress management.Use Code SCOTT20 for 20% of your order.⁠⁠⁠Connect with me on TikTok⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠Disclaimer: This content is not intended to be a replacement for receiving treatment. It is purely educational in nature. My relationship with you is that of presenter and audience, not therapist and client.But I do care.

09-15
29:43

13 Controversial Opinions About Therapy

I became a therapist because I believed the field could change lives. Then I saw how it actually works behind the curtain—and realized why so many clients feel stuck. In this episode, I share 13 controversial truths about therapy, why many “standard” approaches fall flat, and what actually helps when you’re depressed, anxious, or barely holding it together.Thanks to Grow Therapy for sponsoring this video! Get my ⁠5-day guide to reclaiming your time and energy despite mental health struggles⁠.Get Practical tools for navigating life with depression and anxiety, delivered weekly⁠⁠⁠.⁠3 Unique ways to work with me⁠⁠Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps⁠⁠ with my new Sleep Workbook.⁠⁠⁠My book: For When Everything is Burning⁠⁠⁠The caffeine-lite option for long-term boost in mood, cognition, motivation and stress management.Use Code SCOTT20 for 20% of your order.⁠⁠⁠Connect with me on TikTok⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠Disclaimer: This content is not intended to be a replacement for receiving treatment. It is purely educational in nature. My relationship with you is that of presenter and audience, not therapist and client.But I do care.

09-08
35:45

Your Anxiety Routine Is Ruining Your Life - Here’s 6 Ways To Stop It

Proud to team up with Get Joy! Their Freeze Dried Raw meals are crafted for better digestion, more energy, and happier days together because joy starts from within. Feeling trapped in rigid routines because of anxiety? You’re not alone—and you’re not “broken.” In this video, I break down why anxiety-driven planning spirals (from route-mapping the grocery store to pre-writing every social reply) quietly steal your time, energy, and self-trust—and how to get your life back.What you’ll learnHow anxiety routines (not just OCD) become mental “time thieves”The hidden cost: why over-planning convinces you you’re incompetent6 practical ways to loosen anxiety’s grip:Care for something beyond yourselfTake action before you feel “ready” (graded exposure)“Finish the story” behind your fearIntentionally disrupt the routine (safe, small experiments)Lean on universal coping tools (mindfulness, breath work, PMR, prayer/mantras)Build a receipts file of times you handled it just fineGet my ⁠5-day guide to reclaiming your time and energy despite mental health struggles⁠.Get Practical tools for navigating life with depression and anxiety, delivered weekly⁠⁠⁠.⁠3 Unique ways to work with me⁠⁠Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps⁠⁠ with my new Sleep Workbook.⁠⁠⁠My book: For When Everything is Burning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with me on TikTok⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠Disclaimer: This content is not intended to be a replacement for receiving treatment. It is purely educational in nature. My relationship with you is that of presenter and audience, not therapist and client.But I do care.

09-01
30:14

So You Ruined Your Life; Now What?

Thanks to Grow Therapy for sponsoring this video! Head to their site to learn more and book a session!Your life can feel like it’s falling apart—sometimes because of bad luck, but other times because of your own choices. I’ve ruined my life multiple times…and rebuilt it. In this video, I share 7 practical strategies for putting your life back together when you’ve hit rock bottom.Get my ⁠5-day guide to reclaiming your time and energy despite mental health struggles⁠.Get Practical tools for navigating life with depression and anxiety, delivered weekly⁠⁠⁠.⁠3 Unique ways to work with me⁠⁠Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps⁠⁠ with my new Sleep Workbook.⁠⁠⁠My book: For When Everything is Burning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with me on TikTok⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠Disclaimer: This content is not intended to be a replacement for receiving treatment. It is purely educational in nature. My relationship with you is that of presenter and audience, not therapist and client.But I do care.

08-25
24:43

The 6 Lies The World Tells You And How To Talk Back To Them

Society's greatest lies are destroying your peace of mind daily. I've spent fifteen years identifying six toxic beliefs that trap people.These patterns appear regardless of age, gender, or background. Most people unknowingly accept damaging worldviews that keep them stuck.I'll expose how these lies manifest in your thoughts. You'll learn to challenge destructive beliefs that fuel anxiety.Get my ⁠5-day guide to reclaiming your time and energy despite mental health struggles⁠.Get Practical tools for navigating life with depression and anxiety, delivered weekly⁠⁠⁠.⁠3 Unique ways to work with me⁠⁠Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps⁠⁠ with my new Sleep Workbook.⁠⁠⁠My book: For When Everything is Burning⁠⁠⁠The caffeine-lite option for long-term boost in mood, cognition, motivation and stress management.Use Code SCOTT20 for 20% of your order.⁠⁠⁠Connect with me on TikTok⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠Disclaimer: This content is not intended to be a replacement for receiving treatment. It is purely educational in nature. My relationship with you is that of presenter and audience, not therapist and client.But I do care.

08-18
28:38

15 Things You Should Never Do When You’re Depressed

I use ‪Manta Sleep‬ Mask to block light and sound, melt tension, and prime my brain for a calm, anxiety-free morning. Try it for yourself and see the difference.Depression doesn't mean you're living wrong. It's a cyclical condition that happens to you.Episodes aren't punishment for your choices. They're medical events requiring strategic responses.I share fifteen critical mistakes that worsen depression. These aren't generic tips—they're battle-tested strategies. Each one prevents your episode from lasting months instead of weeks.Get my ⁠5-day guide to reclaiming your time and energy despite mental health struggles⁠.Get Practical tools for navigating life with depression and anxiety, delivered weekly⁠⁠⁠.⁠3 Unique ways to work with me⁠⁠Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps⁠⁠ with my new Sleep Workbook.⁠⁠⁠My book: For When Everything is Burning⁠⁠⁠The caffeine-lite option for long-term boost in mood, cognition, motivation and stress management.Use Code SCOTT20 for 20% of your order.⁠⁠⁠Connect with me on TikTok⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠Disclaimer: This content is not intended to be a replacement for receiving treatment. It is purely educational in nature. My relationship with you is that of presenter and audience, not therapist and client.But I do care.

08-11
37:24

Your brain is trolling you; here’s how to make it stop

Your brain doesn't care about your happiness at all. I explain why our survival-focused minds sabotage positive change.Our brains prioritize predictability over progress every single time. Research shows our brains constantly change through neuroplasticity, yet resist beneficial transformations.This video reveals how to shrink toxic belief systems. I share practical strategies for accurate thought classification daily.Get my ⁠5-day guide to reclaiming your time and energy despite mental health struggles⁠.Get Practical tools for navigating life with depression and anxiety, delivered weekly⁠⁠⁠.⁠3 Unique ways to work with me⁠⁠Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps⁠⁠ with my new Sleep Workbook.⁠⁠⁠My book: For When Everything is Burning⁠⁠⁠The caffeine-lite option for long-term boost in mood, cognition, motivation and stress management.Use Code SCOTT20 for 20% of your order.⁠⁠⁠Connect with me on TikTok⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠Disclaimer: This content is not intended to be a replacement for receiving treatment. It is purely educational in nature. My relationship with you is that of presenter and audience, not therapist and client.But I do care.

08-04
20:26

10 Ways To Stay Physically Active When You’re Depressed

Thanks to Aviron for sponsoring today's video. They have their best prices of the year on right now and you can get an additional $50 off all of their products when you use code DRSCOTT50. Physical activity beats therapy and medication for depression. My data proves exercise is faster, cheaper, and more effective.Depression makes exercise feel impossible when it's most needed. Your brain craves instant gratification while battling low energy.This video gives you my 10-strategy system for staying active. These methods helped me maintain fitness through decades of depression.Get my ⁠5-day guide to reclaiming your time and energy despite mental health struggles⁠.Get Practical tools for navigating life with depression and anxiety, delivered weekly⁠⁠⁠.⁠3 Unique ways to work with me⁠⁠Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps⁠⁠ with my new Sleep Workbook.⁠⁠⁠My book: For When Everything is Burning⁠⁠⁠The caffeine-lite option for long-term boost in mood, cognition, motivation and stress management.Use Code SCOTT20 for 20% of your order.⁠⁠⁠Connect with me on TikTok⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠Disclaimer: This content is not intended to be a replacement for receiving treatment. It is purely educational in nature. My relationship with you is that of presenter and audience, not therapist and client.But I do care.

07-28
29:06

How To Eliminate All Meaningless Suffering From Your Life

Most people accept all suffering as equally inevitable and meaningful. I believe we're torturing ourselves with pain that serves no purpose.The truth is you're likely pursuing things you don't value. You're also avoiding things that could actually fulfill you completely.I'll show you my modified Eisenhower matrix for elimination. You'll learn to separate meaningful struggle from pointless self-torture.Get my ⁠5-day guide to reclaiming your time and energy despite mental health struggles⁠.Get Practical tools for navigating life with depression and anxiety, delivered weekly⁠⁠⁠.⁠3 Unique ways to work with me⁠⁠Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps⁠⁠ with my new Sleep Workbook.⁠⁠⁠My book: For When Everything is Burning⁠⁠⁠The caffeine-lite option for long-term boost in mood, cognition, motivation and stress management.Use Code SCOTT20 for 20% of your order.⁠⁠⁠Connect with me on TikTok⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠Disclaimer: This content is not intended to be a replacement for receiving treatment. It is purely educational in nature. My relationship with you is that of presenter and audience, not therapist and client.But I do care.

07-21
19:45

I’m Kind Of Happy, But I kind Of Want To Die

Having everything you thought you wanted doesn't cure existential emptiness. I discovered this painful truth after climbing from rock bottom.Many people achieve their dreams yet still feel hollow. Society rarely acknowledges this confusing category of "thriving yet unhappy."This video explores three keys to finding meaning beyond success: self-actualization, values alignment, and spiritual connection. These insights will help you navigate depression that exists alongside achievement.Get my ⁠5-day guide to reclaiming your time and energy despite mental health struggles⁠.Get Practical tools for navigating life with depression and anxiety, delivered weekly⁠⁠⁠.⁠3 Unique ways to work with me⁠⁠Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps⁠⁠ with my new Sleep Workbook.⁠⁠⁠My book: For When Everything is Burning⁠⁠⁠The caffeine-lite option for long-term boost in mood, cognition, motivation and stress management.Use Code SCOTT20 for 20% of your order.⁠⁠⁠Connect with me on TikTok⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠Disclaimer: This content is not intended to be a replacement for receiving treatment. It is purely educational in nature. My relationship with you is that of presenter and audience, not therapist and client.But I do care.

07-14
14:23

If The Good Feelings Never Seem To Last, Listen to This

Recovery isn't about feeling happy all the time. Most people chase temporary highs that always fade away.I discovered we have two choices for happiness. We chase quick mood boosts or raise our baseline.This video shows my research-based model for lasting contentment. You'll learn to balance immediate gratification with long-term investments.Thanks to Grow Therapy for sponsoring this episode! ⁠Head to our website⁠ to learn more and book a session!⁠ @growtherapy__ ⁠ Get my ⁠5-day guide to reclaiming your time and energy despite mental health struggles⁠.Get Practical tools for navigating life with depression and anxiety, delivered weekly⁠⁠⁠.⁠3 Unique ways to work with me⁠⁠Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps⁠⁠ with my new Sleep Workbook.⁠⁠⁠My book: For When Everything is Burning⁠⁠⁠The caffeine-lite option for long-term boost in mood, cognition, motivation and stress management.Use Code SCOTT20 for 20% of your order.⁠⁠⁠Connect with me on TikTok⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠Disclaimer: This content is not intended to be a replacement for receiving treatment. It is purely educational in nature. My relationship with you is that of presenter and audience, not therapist and client.But I do care.

07-07
19:09

Why You Run Out Of Time Every Single Day

No one else is talking about this strategy - because no one else has done it (to my knowledge).I'm sharing the strategy I've used to solve what felt like an impossible problem in my life: how to get done both the things I have to do, as well as the things I really want to do.Get my ⁠5-day guide to reclaiming your time and energy despite mental health struggles⁠.Get Practical tools for navigating life with depression and anxiety, delivered weekly⁠⁠⁠.⁠3 Unique ways to work with me⁠⁠Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps⁠⁠ with my new Sleep Workbook.⁠⁠⁠My book: For When Everything is Burning⁠⁠⁠The caffeine-lite option for long-term boost in mood, cognition, motivation and stress management.Use Code SCOTT20 for 20% of your order.⁠⁠⁠Connect with me on TikTok⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠Disclaimer: This content is not intended to be a replacement for receiving treatment. It is purely educational in nature. My relationship with you is that of presenter and audience, not therapist and client.But I do care.

06-23
16:55

19 Questions To Ask Yourself During Depressive Episodes

Thanks to Grow Therapy for sponsoring this episode! Learn more or book a session here. Depression hijacks your mind to tell you you’re worthless. By reshaping the questions you ask yourself into specific, actionable prompts, you reclaim control over your mind.In this video, I reveal how broad, leading questions fuel self-defeat and why pinpointing precise, constructive questions can spark joy, bolster resilience, and guide you out of a depressive episode.Watch now to learn the essential reframing technique that turns your brain’s questioning instinct into a powerful tool for peace, purpose, and progress.Get my ⁠5-day guide to reclaiming your time and energy despite mental health struggles⁠.Get Practical tools for navigating life with depression and anxiety, delivered weekly⁠⁠⁠.⁠3 Unique ways to work with me⁠⁠Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps⁠⁠ with my new Sleep Workbook.⁠⁠⁠My book: For When Everything is Burning⁠⁠⁠The caffeine-lite option for long-term boost in mood, cognition, motivation and stress management.Use Code SCOTT20 for 20% of your order.⁠⁠⁠Connect with me on TikTok⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠Disclaimer: This content is not intended to be a replacement for receiving treatment. It is purely educational in nature. My relationship with you is that of presenter and audience, not therapist and client.But I do care.

06-16
28:04

Your Personality - Feature or Bug?

Personality isn’t a flaw to fix, it’s a unique feature.I believe we often underestimate how much we can truly change.I dive into the Big Five traits and their mental health impact.You’ll learn when to change habits and when to accept traits.Get my ⁠5-day guide to reclaiming your time and energy despite mental health struggles⁠.Get Practical tools for navigating life with depression and anxiety, delivered weekly⁠⁠⁠.⁠3 Unique ways to work with me⁠⁠Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps⁠⁠ with my new Sleep Workbook.⁠⁠⁠My book: For When Everything is Burning⁠⁠⁠The caffeine-lite option for long-term boost in mood, cognition, motivation and stress management.Use Code SCOTT20 for 20% of your order.⁠⁠⁠Connect with me on TikTok⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠Disclaimer: This content is not intended to be a replacement for receiving treatment. It is purely educational in nature. My relationship with you is that of presenter and audience, not therapist and client.But I do care.

06-09
27:04

What You Can’t Do Because Of Your Depression

Motivation hacks fail depressed brains. Depression distorts mental-health reward predictions, making every beneficial task feel pointless. I explain why raw physical action beats mental cheerleading.Get my ⁠5-day guide to reclaiming your time and energy despite mental health struggles⁠.Get Practical tools for navigating life with depression and anxiety, delivered weekly⁠⁠⁠.⁠3 Unique ways to work with me⁠⁠Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps⁠⁠ with my new Sleep Workbook.⁠⁠⁠My book: For When Everything is Burning⁠⁠⁠The caffeine-lite option for long-term boost in mood, cognition, motivation and stress management.Use Code SCOTT20 for 20% of your order.⁠⁠⁠Connect with me on TikTok⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠Disclaimer: This content is not intended to be a replacement for receiving treatment. It is purely educational in nature. My relationship with you is that of presenter and audience, not therapist and client.But I do care.

06-02
14:01

GB

This is basically saying "you will feel just as bad, if not worse". Then what is the point? If the only thing I can hope is to fight much harder to feel worse, then I do not see the point in even trying.

04-01 Reply

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