The Psychology of Depression and Anxiety - Dr. Scott Eilers

Ever wonder why it's hard to sleep well? You're not alone. Sometimes, our sleep gets broken, and we don't know how to fix it. Well, this video is all about understanding and fixing our sleep. I will talk about 'sleep hygiene,' which are easy things you can do every day to sleep better. We also explore 'sleep restriction therapy' - a special way to help you sleep without...

What happens when spend too much time trying to "escape" from your life? First off, it is completely understandable to want to escape from your life at times. This world isn't setup in a way that fits everyone - every personality and persona. But there are some costs that come with doing this too frequently and for extended periods of time. I want you to know the costs, as well as, s...

Do you fear everything will end terribly? Like every illness will end in loss; like every mistake will lead to severe consequences; like people are abandoning you when they take a while to respond? You might be experiencing something called catastrophic thinking. Catastrophic thinking can be overwhelming, but it's not unmanageable. Each person's experience with this challenge is unique, an...

Anxiety management tools and strategies not working for you? Anxiety isn’t one-size-fits-all. And your specific experience of anxiety needs a specific strategy. I’m breaking down 4 different types of anxiety, as well as how to manage them . Try applying these in your context and see which might be effective for you. Get my book: For When Everything is Burning https://bit.ly/forwheneverythingisburn...

When you’re young, you have no ability to meet our own needs - so what happens when those needs don’t get met? When those needs aren’t met, you really only have two options: suffer or learn to ignore the need. Nurturing barriers are subconscious, internal habits you develop as coping mechanisms for not getting things you needed in the early period of your life. This can lead us to feel like we hav...

The emotional and physical toll of debilitating anxiety can be overwhelming. What I've found in my life - and in the lives of many clients - is that I fed and enabled my anxiety through my habits and actions. Not on purpose; not even knowingly. The first step to overcoming my chronic anxiety was to see the causes and dismantle them. I'm sharing the 6 things I did to fix my anxiety. These a...

Does life sometimes feel like a never-ending cycle of pain and suffering? It's like you keep experiencing the same disappointments and setbacks over and over again. I'm going to introduce you to how the concept of confirmation bias tricks you into perceiving patterns that may not actually exist. I'm sharing an exercise to help you break free from these patterns by seeing things with fr...

Ever wondered about the disturbing thoughts that occasionally cross your mind? The thoughts you don't want anyone else to know? Do they mean you're some horrible person who wants everyone to die and wants to watch the world burn? This time I'm looking at the nature of dark thoughts that many of us experience, but rarely talk about. Are these thoughts indicative of our true selves, or a...

Anxiety shrinks your world. It takes this massive world we all inhabit and makes it feel oppressively small. Severe anxiety feels like there are barriers everywhere - invisible barriers, concrete walls block you from doing just about anything. Are you tired of living in constant fear and anxiety? Let’s dive in to practical strategies for overcoming anxiety and reclaiming your life. I’m going to sh...

Are you worth investing in? Do you care what happens to you? It's easy to get to a place where you know what you "should" be doing - you have knowledge, tools, strategies that can help you. But many people opt-out of the "doing." The biggest barrier for many people on their mental healthy journey is finding a reason - a purpose - to actually apply those tools, copy skills,...

The things you've done in your past that you're not proud of may have, in fact, helped you get through some of your darkest moments. I understand this is an unpopular opinion; but these incredibly destructive activities are also incredibly powerful in keeping us going when, perhaps, nothing else will. Hear me out on this one, and share your thoughts in the comments. Get my book: For When E...

Managing your mental health is complex enough on its own without adding in the fact that every day can bring new challenges. What do you do when new depressive episodes and stressors while you're managing existing ones? Recovery hinges on recognizing and addressing the changes these bring to daily routines, social interactions, and self-care. The key is balancing 'inputs' and 'outp...

Learned helplessness is a phenomenon where individuals feel that no matter what they do, they can't escape pain or negative outcomes. A lot of times this comes from abusive situations, harsh criticism, or even internal struggles like depression and anxiety. These beliefs can stick with you, even when circumstances change. If you've experienced inescapable pain before, you might not realize...

Life is filled with inevitable trauma, death, and tragedy, even if you've had a seemingly normal or average life. This is because of a significant divide between what your life is like and how you actually feel. It's not just about having a good or bad life; internal variables can dramatically impact someone's emotional experience. It's important to recognize the validity of your o...

I battled depression for 40 years, 98% of it was misery. I used drugs, alcohol, and chasing short-term joy as a way to escape. Now, I feel good 90% of the time and have even started helping others with mood and anxiety disorders through various programs and clinics. To manage my depression effectively, I've made six key changes in my life. I want to tell you about how to use each of these effe...

Your perception of other people's lives is just as flawed as their perception of yours. Your perception of their life is just a simulation, and you can't know how it truly feels to be them - just like they don't know what it truly feels like to be you. It's so easy to feel like you're constantly falling behind everyone around you. Like everyone around you got some memo that nev...

The outside world is wildly mistaken about self-harm - and those who engage in it. Contrary to popular belief it isn't a cry for attention or something only the severely depressed do. In this video I'm debunking the misconceptions associated with self-harm. I also share why this act is usually shrouded in secrecy, shame, and embarrassment, and why it's challenging for individuals to se...

Ever felt like life's stressors are pushing you toward a breaking point? When stress accumulates, our brain and nervous system can interpret it as mortal danger, leading to a shutdown called the freeze response. I've got a hack to break the freeze response and regain control when you're drowning in stress. There are two primary reasons humans do things: 1. to avoid punishment 2. gain r...

Life is getting harder, and it can feel absolutely exhausting to do even the most basic of activities. This is due to the finite nature of willpower and our constant battle against high-stimulation activities, especially smartphones. To regain control you have to take charge of your inner ecosystem. Let's talk about that. Get my book: For When Everything is Burning Connect with me on TikTok :...

Grief isn't one-size-fits-all, and it's the nuance between the types that causes many people to stay stuck. There are two types of grief: regular grief when you lose something you had, and ambiguous grief when you realize you'll never have something you always wanted. Ambiguous grief is real and can be just as painful and I'm going to help you walk through that in this episode. Get...

When you are in the depths of overwhelm, it can feel impossible to do anything - even when you know action is the one thing that will keep everything from falling a part. Why does this happen? What can you do about it? Can you do ANYTHING about it? This week's episode dives in deep on why you shut down sometimes. Get my book: For When Everything is Burning⁠ ⁠Connect with me on TikTok⁠ ⁠Watch o...

Getting specific, recurring thoughts stuck in your head doesn't make you crazy, it's what our brains do. Our brains often fall into repetitive thought patterns, especially for those with mood or anxiety issues. Redirecting your mind is key to breaking these patterns. Try these two strategies to help end your recurring negative thoughts. Get my book: For When Everything is Burning Connect w...

Are you letting an outdated self-image ruin your life? If you feel like a fraud or constantly worried that you'll be exposed for not being qualified, you might be suffering from some imposter syndrome. I'm diving headfirst into the world of imposter syndrome and showing you exactly how to overcome it. Imposter syndrome preys on our outdated self-image, making us feel like we're living a lie. But h...

Have you ever felt indifferent or ambivalent towards your own life? If so, you're not alone. Millions experience Passive Suicidal Ideation, but it exists on a spectrum, ranging from apathy about your future to even secretly hoping for an end to your own life. I'm sharing my personal experiences and tools I've used (and still use) to work through Passive S.I. Get my book: For When Every...

Your morning (lack of) routine could be setting you for a day of stress right out of the gate. If you have any kind of mental illness, how you start the day has a heavy influence on how well you feel during the day. I'm sharing my anti-anhedonia morning routine in this episode - I hope it will be a framework to help you create this tool for managing your own mental health. You don’t need to be...