The Psychology of Depression and Anxiety - Dr. Scott Eilers

Scott Eilers
  • 4.8 (225)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

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.

  1. 1d ago

    The pursuit of happiness is making you miserable

    Taking care of your health just got easier, thanks to my sponsor Zocdoc, start here at: https://zocdoc.com/drscotteilersThe antidote to depression isn’t happiness—it’s contentment. I explain why chasing happiness can actually make depression worse, especially when anhedonia makes positive emotions inaccessible or when short-term relief leads to unhealthy decisions. If my podcast has helped, my new book, The Light Between the Leaves, goes even deeper Next Steps:📩 Get Practical tools for navigating life with depression and anxiety, delivered weekly. About me: I know what it is to feel hopelessly stuck and worthless to the world in general. I also know what it is to live without those feelings. I’m both a Clinical Psychology specializing in treatment-resistant depression and anxiety, and a human who has spent more than a decade managing sever depression and anxiety. Mental Health Coaching with meTherapy with me (for people in Iowa)Find me on YouTubeResources 🪣 Get my free 5-day guide to reclaiming your time and energy despite mental health struggles. 😴 Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps with my new Sleep Workbook. 📖 My 1st book: For When Everything is Burning 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.I break down the “hedonic treadmill,” why good things eventually become our new normal, and why constantly needing more can leave us less satisfied with what we already have. Contentment gives me something more stable to build on because it doesn’t require me to feel good in order to recognize that parts of my life are good.I also share five ways I’ve learned to practice contentment, including challenging emotional reasoning, accepting some discontentment, and resisting the belief that one more achievement or purchase will finally make me feel whole. The goal isn’t to convince yourself everything is wonderful—it’s learning when good enough really is enough.

  2. Aug 10

    When feeling happy feels uncomfortable or scary (positive affect intolerance explained)

    If your body feels restless, tense, or overstimulated, see how CozyThrowzzz™ uses warmth and gentle pressure to help you feel supported while you move through the moment.https://cozyzzz.com/pages/cozyzzz-dr-scott(I've put together a little sensory guide you can download from the link above as well).What if feeling good actually makes you feel worse? I explain positive affect intolerance—why joy, comfort, love, accomplishment, or excitement can trigger anxiety, suspicion, anger, or the feeling that something bad is about to happen.I break down how depression, trauma, inconsistent relationships, ADHD, autism, and cyclical mood disorders can teach your brain not to trust positive emotions. I also explain why pushing good feelings away can become an automatic form of self-protection.Finally, I share several ways I’ve worked on this myself, including gradual exposure to positive emotions, challenging the beliefs that make comfort feel unsafe, and learning to let good experiences last a little longer. The goal isn’t to force yourself to be happy—it’s to stop feeling like happiness itself is dangerous.If my podcast has helped, my new book, The Light Between the Leaves, goes even deeper Next Steps:📩 Get Practical tools for navigating life with depression and anxiety, delivered weekly. About me: I know what it is to feel hopelessly stuck and worthless to the world in general. I also know what it is to live without those feelings. I’m both a Clinical Psychology specializing in treatment-resistant depression and anxiety, and a human who has spent more than a decade managing sever depression and anxiety. Mental Health Coaching with meTherapy with me (for people in Iowa)Find me on YouTubeResources 🪣 Get my free 5-day guide to reclaiming your time and energy despite mental health struggles. 😴 Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps with my new Sleep Workbook. 📖 My 1st book: For When Everything is Burning 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.

  3. Aug 3

    What if I’ve been so depressed for so long that I literally don’t know how to live?

    hanks to Monarch for partnering with me! Start your free trial and get 50% off your first year of total money clarity using my link https://monarchmoney.yt.link/lN5YDJ4 or code drscott50 for 50% Off Monarch Core tier.What happens when depression lifts—but you feel years behind everyone else? In this video, I share one of the hardest seasons of my life: recovering after a decade of severe depression while realizing I had missed many of the life skills other people seemed to learn naturally. I'll walk through the three lessons that helped me rebuild without burning myself out.We talk about why patience is essential in recovery, why asking for help can dramatically shorten the learning curve, and why finding joy matters just as much as rebuilding your life. If you're finally starting to feel better but don't know how to move forward, I hope these lessons help you find your footing.Depression can delay your development—but it doesn't define your future. Recovery isn't about catching up to everyone else. It's about building a life that works for you. If my podcast has helped, my new book, The Light Between the Leaves, goes even deeper Next Steps:📩 Get Practical tools for navigating life with depression and anxiety, delivered weekly. About me: I know what it is to feel hopelessly stuck and worthless to the world in general. I also know what it is to live without those feelings. I’m both a Clinical Psychology specializing in treatment-resistant depression and anxiety, and a human who has spent more than a decade managing sever depression and anxiety. Mental Health Coaching with meTherapy with me (for people in Iowa)Find me on YouTubeResources 🪣 Get my free 5-day guide to reclaiming your time and energy despite mental health struggles. 😴 Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps with my new Sleep Workbook. 📖 My 1st book: For When Everything is Burning 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.

  4. Jul 31

    5 Reasons Your Depression Will Never Get Better

    Thanks to Grow Therapy for sponsoring this video! Head to https://growtherapy.yt.link/fdPWV2y to find your dream therapist today!Why does depression seem impossible to escape? In this video, I take a different approach by using humor and reverse psychology to explore five habits that quietly keep depression alive. From abandoning the things that once brought joy to comparing your real life with impossible standards, these patterns can trap you in a cycle that's difficult to recognize—but possible to change.We'll talk about why self-care actually creates self-worth, why trying to recover completely alone often backfires, how chasing only short-term pleasure keeps you emotionally stuck, and why comparison robs you of hope. I'll also share how these same traps have shown up in my own life.Recovery doesn't require perfection. It starts by noticing the patterns that keep you stuck—and choosing a different direction.If my podcast has helped, my new book, The Light Between the Leaves, goes even deeper Next Steps:📩 Get Practical tools for navigating life with depression and anxiety, delivered weekly. About me: I know what it is to feel hopelessly stuck and worthless to the world in general. I also know what it is to live without those feelings. I’m both a Clinical Psychology specializing in treatment-resistant depression and anxiety, and a human who has spent more than a decade managing sever depression and anxiety. Mental Health Coaching with meTherapy with me (for people in Iowa)Find me on YouTubeResources 🪣 Get my free 5-day guide to reclaiming your time and energy despite mental health struggles. 😴 Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps with my new Sleep Workbook. 📖 My 1st book: For When Everything is Burning 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.

  5. Jul 27

    Surprisingly effective techniques for dealing with anxiety and panic (with Dr. Bonnie Zucker)

    Thank you to Quince for sponsoring this video! Explore all of Quince's vitamins and supplements at https://quince.yt.link/80eEkLy to get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. #QuincePartnerEveryday Zero Sugar Hydration: https://quince.yt.link/aFXKOlgCertified Organic Daily Stress Support: https://quince.yt.link/cOpad44Mongolian Cashmere Crewneck Sweater: https://quince.yt.link/4H2PtXWCan panic attacks become less frightening? In this conversation with Dr. Bonnie Zucker, we explore what panic attacks really are, why fear of your own body can keep panic going, and the evidence-based strategies that help people recover. From health anxiety and hypervigilance to exercise, exposure therapy, and learning to trust your body's sensations again, this discussion is full of practical tools for lasting change.We also discuss why becoming too aware of your body can actually increase anxiety, why reassurance often backfires, and how understanding panic changes the way you respond to it. Dr. Zucker shares insights from decades of treating panic disorder and discusses her new book, Freedom from Panic.Panic attacks are terrifying—but they are treatable. The more you understand what's happening in your mind and body, the less power panic has over your life.If my podcast has helped, my new book, The Light Between the Leaves, goes even deeper Next Steps:📩 Get Practical tools for navigating life with depression and anxiety, delivered weekly. About me: I know what it is to feel hopelessly stuck and worthless to the world in general. I also know what it is to live without those feelings. I’m both a Clinical Psychology specializing in treatment-resistant depression and anxiety, and a human who has spent more than a decade managing sever depression and anxiety. Mental Health Coaching with meTherapy with me (for people in Iowa)Find me on YouTubeResources 🪣 Get my free 5-day guide to reclaiming your time and energy despite mental health struggles. 😴 Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps with my new Sleep Workbook. 📖 My 1st book: For When Everything is Burning 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.

  6. Jul 20

    12 tools to use when your nervous system goes completely haywire

    Most coping skills fail because they're used one at a time. When you're dealing with severe anxiety, depression, panic attacks, or trauma, a single coping skill often feels hopelessly inadequate—it is. Your nervous system doesn't understand words. It understands actions. Sometimes the goal isn't finding a better coping skill—it's using enough of the right ones together. Thanks to the sponsors of this episode: Cozyzzz Find out how CozyThrowzzz supports nervous system regulation through warmth, gentle pressure, and hands-free comfort.https://cozyzzz.com/pages/cozyzzz-dr-scott CalmCarry For support at bedtime, during overwhelming moments, or anytime calm is needed. https://www.theglowcompany.co/products/calmcarry%C2%AE-australia Pulsetto Get 10% off your Pulsetto FIT here: https://pulsetto.tech/pages/drscott or use my coupon code DRSCOTT. It’s completely risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test it and see how your body responds. If my podcast has helped, my new book, The Light Between the Leaves, goes even deeper Next Steps:📩 Get Practical tools for navigating life with depression and anxiety, delivered weekly. About me: I know what it is to feel hopelessly stuck and worthless to the world in general. I also know what it is to live without those feelings. I’m both a Clinical Psychology specializing in treatment-resistant depression and anxiety, and a human who has spent more than a decade managing sever depression and anxiety. Mental Health Coaching with meTherapy with me (for people in Iowa)Find me on YouTubeResources 🪣 Get my free 5-day guide to reclaiming your time and energy despite mental health struggles. 😴 Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps with my new Sleep Workbook. 📖 My 1st book: For When Everything is Burning 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.

  7. Jul 13

    Autism, TMS, MeRT, PDA, and “Glimmers” with Kelley Jensen of Brain Performance Technologies

    Can TMS help autism, depression, OCD, PTSD, or autistic burnout? In this conversation, I sit down with Kelly Jensen of Brain Performance Technologies and the Refrigerator Moms podcast to discuss what Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and MeRT are, how they work, and why more families deserve to know these treatments exist.We talk about autism, late diagnosis, sensory overload, burnout, depression, parenting, and Kelly's personal journey after watching her autistic son experience life-changing improvements with MeRT. We also discuss why so many people have never heard of these treatments, despite years of research and FDA clearances.Whether you're autistic, parenting an autistic child, or supporting someone who is, I hope this conversation gives you new ideas to explore and reminds you that there are often more options than you realize.If you have question for Kelley, you can send them to Ask@1bpt.com. If my podcast has helped, my new book, The Light Between the Leaves, goes even deeper Next Steps:📩 Get Practical tools for navigating life with depression and anxiety, delivered weekly. About me: I know what it is to feel hopelessly stuck and worthless to the world in general. I also know what it is to live without those feelings. I’m both a Clinical Psychology specializing in treatment-resistant depression and anxiety, and a human who has spent more than a decade managing sever depression and anxiety. Mental Health Coaching with meTherapy with me (for people in Iowa)Find me on YouTubeResources 🪣 Get my free 5-day guide to reclaiming your time and energy despite mental health struggles. 😴 Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps with my new Sleep Workbook. 📖 My 1st book: For When Everything is Burning 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.

  8. Jul 11

    3 Subtypes Of Suicidal Ideation And How To Deal With Them (Why Crisis Resources Fail So Many Suicidal People)

    Thanks to Monarch for partnering with me! Start your free trial and get 50% off your first year of total money clarity using my link https://monarchmoney.yt.link/zxyvp0a or code drscott50 for 50% Off Monarch Core tier.Not everyone experiences suicidal thoughts for the same reason. In this video, I explain the three distinct types of suicidal ideation I've observed throughout my career—and why treating them all the same often leaves people feeling even more alone.We explore analytical suicidal ideation, inexplicable suicidal ideation, and emotional suicidal ideation, what separates them, and why each requires a different path toward healing. If you've ever thought, "The advice everyone gives me doesn't actually help," this conversation may finally put words to your experience.If you're in immediate danger or believe you may act on suicidal thoughts, contact your local emergency services or a crisis service right away. My hope is that this discussion helps you better understand what you're experiencing so you can find the kind of support that truly fits your needs. If my podcast has helped, my new book, The Light Between the Leaves, goes even deeper Next Steps:📩 Get Practical tools for navigating life with depression and anxiety, delivered weekly. About me: I know what it is to feel hopelessly stuck and worthless to the world in general. I also know what it is to live without those feelings. I’m both a Clinical Psychology specializing in treatment-resistant depression and anxiety, and a human who has spent more than a decade managing sever depression and anxiety. Mental Health Coaching with meTherapy with me (for people in Iowa)Find me on YouTubeResources 🪣 Get my free 5-day guide to reclaiming your time and energy despite mental health struggles. 😴 Dramatically improve your sleep in 2 steps with my new Sleep Workbook. 📖 My 1st book: For When Everything is Burning 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.

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About

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.

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