The Psychology of Depression and Anxiety - Dr. Scott Eilers

Depression kills energy, motivation, and hope—and the things that help most (therapy, meds, exercise) all require the very energy you don’t have. In this video, I share 10 micro habits that are simple, realistic, and proven to make a dent when you’re running on empty.These aren’t miracle cures—they’re small switches that make it possible to start healing again. Learn how to rebuild self-trust, challenge negative thoughts, use “opposite action,” stop rumination, and remember that your brain’s glitch doesn’t mean you’ve changed.Pick two or three of these to start. Small doesn’t mean weak—especially when you stack them over time.If my episodes have helped, my new book goes even deeperhttps://bit.ly/DrScottLightBetweentheLeavesYTNext Steps: 📩 Get Practical tools for navigating life with depression and anxiety, delivered weekly. https://bit.ly/SelfHopePsychologyDepression and Anxiety resource:🪣 Get my 5-day guide to reclaiming your time and energy despite mental health struggles. https://bit.ly/DrScottBucketTheory♥︎ 2 Unique ways to work with me - https://drscotteilers.com😴 Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps with my new Sleep Workbook.https://www.drscotteilers.com/resources#how-to-sleep-better📖 My book: For When Everything is Burninghttps://bit.ly/forwheneverythingisburning Disclaimer: 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.

If my podcasts have helped, my new book goes even deeperhttps://bit.ly/DrScottLightBetweentheLeavesYTWhen someone you love says they don’t want to be here anymore, it’s terrifying. In this video I walk you through a clear, compassionate game plan: the tone to keep (serious but calm), what to do (assess plan/means/intent, increase proximity, explore treatment levels, means-restriction, crisis options), and what not to do (guilt, minimization, adversarial debates).You’ll leave with practical language, next-step checklists, and ways to stay connected without turning the moment into pressure. Save this for when you need it most—and share it with the people in your circle.If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call your local emergency number. In the U.S., call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline; for other countries, search your local crisis line.Next Steps: 📩 Get Practical tools for navigating life with depression and anxiety, delivered weekly. https://bit.ly/SelfHopePsychologyDepression and Anxiety resource:🪣 Get my 5-day guide to reclaiming your time and energy despite mental health struggles. https://bit.ly/DrScottBucketTheory♥︎ 2 Unique ways to work with me - https://drscotteilers.com😴 Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps with my new Sleep Workbook.https://www.drscotteilers.com/resources#how-to-sleep-better📖 My book: For When Everything is Burninghttps://bit.ly/forwheneverythingisburning Disclaimer: 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.

Feeling a little better—and instantly burying yourself in pressure? In this video I show why that smothers your progress and how to use “better days” to build a system that lasts.You’ll learn the Energy Budget: expenses (drain), income (restore), and Investments (cost now, pay you back later). I walk through specific investments—relationships, sleep hygiene, right-sized hobbies, nutrition, skill-building, and fitness—that raise your floor and ceiling over time.Stop burning your good days on catch-up; start compounding them. Save this for the next clear-sky day.

When motivation dies and everything feels blank, you’re not broken—you’re dissociated. In this video I explain why numbness (anhedonia/emptiness) wipes out motivation and how to function anyway.You’ll learn three battle-tested strategies: act on values, not feelings; treat yourself like an organic system (sleep, movement, nutrition); and keep showing up for people and hobbies so the spark can return. These are simple—not easy—but they keep your life intact until your feelings come back.If you’ve lost weeks or years to the void, this gives you a map back: practical steps, zero fluff. Save this for the nights you feel nothing.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.⁠2 Unique ways to work with me⁠⁠Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps⁠⁠ with my 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.

If the harshest voice in your life is your own, you’re not alone. In this video I map John Gottman’s “Four Horsemen” (criticism, defensiveness, contempt, stonewalling) onto our inner dialogue to explain how self-abuse forms—and why it’s so hard to escape.Then I show you how to rebuild the relationship with yourself using two levers: high commitment (taking “give up on me” off the table) and realistic standards (dropping the inhuman bar). Expect practical reframes, not platitudes—and a path out that’s hard, honest, and doable.If you’ve been withdrawing, sabotaging, or fantasizing about disappearing, this is your sign to try again—with better tools and a fairer contract with yourself.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.⁠2 Unique ways to work with me⁠⁠Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps⁠⁠ with my 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.

When the house is finally quiet, staying up feels like the only way to reclaim your life — even if tomorrow pays the price. This pattern has a name: revenge bedtime procrastination.In this video, I break down why it happens (agency, FOMO over your own life) and how it quietly wrecks emotion regulation and control. Then I give you three practical playbooks: mindset shifts, sleep-quality wins, and ways to meet those needs during the day so nights don’t have to.You don’t have to choose between living and sleeping. Use these tools to feel more human tonight and more stable tomorrow.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.⁠2 Unique ways to work with me⁠⁠Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps⁠⁠ with my 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.

Your brain lives in your body—so if you want better mental health, you need a body routine that actually supports it. In this video I share eight high-leverage nutrition habits that reliably boost brain function when motivation and mood are low.We’ll cover practical wins like smarter hydration, whole-food swaps, protein-first snacks, breakfast that turns the lights back on, omega-3s, and amino acids. I’ll also explain why dialing down alcohol and caffeine often stabilizes mood and sleep more than any “mindset” trick.This is behavior activation you can do today: change what you do, so your thoughts and feelings can follow. Start with one habit, stack from there, and let your brain feel the difference.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.⁠2 Unique ways to work with me⁠⁠Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps⁠⁠ with my 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.

ADHD and depression can look almost identical from the outside—but the label matters because the brain systems (and treatments) behind them are different. Get the wrong one and you may not improve, or even feel worse.I break down the overlaps (fog, procrastination, overwhelm) and the key differences: what blocks motivation (during vs. after), trigger-driven mood swings vs. episodes without triggers, “too many options” vs. “no options,” and trait-like ADHD vs. episodic depression. You’ll learn clear ways to tell them apart.If you’re still unsure—or have both—I’ll end with four tools that help either way: sleep hygiene, movement, instant rewards, and reducing scope. Use this to make smarter next steps.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.⁠2 Unique ways to work with me⁠⁠Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps⁠⁠ with my 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.