The Psychology of Depression and Anxiety - Dr. Scott Eilers

Scott Eilers
  • 4.8 (210)
  • 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. 2D AGO

    10 Ways To Get The Best Sleep Of Your Life In 2026

    Start the New Year off right and give your home the luxury it deserves, and make home the best part of life. Head to http://cozyearth.com/ and use my code DRSCOTT for up to 20% off. (or DRSCOTTBOGO for the pajama deal). If your sleep is bad, your mental health has a ceiling—no matter how good your therapist is, how much insight you have, or what meds you’re on. In this episode, I walk through my 10 highest-conviction sleep moves for 2026, including the #1 rule almost everyone gets backwards: your circadian rhythm is built on your wake-up time, not your bedtime. You’ll learn how to: lock in your wake time (even on weekends) build a real wind-down routine (without “bedtime revenge procrastination”) handle 2–4am awakenings the right way set a caffeine cutoff that actually protects sleep quality optimize comfort, darkness, temperature, and white noise stop training your brain to treat your bed like an office If you want better mood, better focus, and better impulse control, start here. 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.

    20 min

  2. 5D AGO

    How To Have Healthy Relationships Even While Living With Depression

    Build a stronger, more connected relationship with Paired for 25% off a yearly plan plus a 7-day free trial. @pairedapp  Chronic depression can wreck relationships—friends, family, coworkers, and especially romantic partners. But I don’t believe it’s inevitable that you end up alone.In this video, I share the highest-conviction strategies I’ve learned (through a lot of trial and error) for building relationships that can survive depressive episodes—without turning your partner into your therapist or expecting people to read your mind. You’ll learn: Why disclosure matters (and how it protects your relationships)What to say when you’re in an episode, not just “I have depression”How depression creates a filter that distorts how you interpret peopleWhy relational anhedonia can make you feel detached from people you loveHow to avoid making relationship decisions from a depressive stateWhy appreciation of effort matters even when “nothing helps”How prompts, reminders, and structure can keep connection aliveIf you’re in the middle of a rough season: you’re not broken, and you’re not unlovable. Your brain is doing what depressed brains do. The goal is to build relationships that don’t collapse every time the weather changes. 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.

    23 min

  3. JAN 19

    Are My Suicidal Urges My “True Self?”

    Head to https://huel.yt.link/lEnX8Jo and & use SCOTT20 to get 20% off your first order of the High Protein Starter Kit!If you struggle with suicidal thoughts, you’ve probably asked the scariest question: “Which version of me is real?” In this video, I explain why suicidal ideation is not a character reveal—and how to tell the difference between intrusive thoughts, impulsive thoughts, and the deeper desire underneath both.We’ll talk about why suicidal thoughts often mean “I want the pain to stop” (not “I want to be dead”), how over-identifying with these thoughts makes them stronger, and the practical biological levers (sleep + nutrition) that can reduce intensity and frequency. 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.

    17 min

  4. JAN 16

    14 Critical Mental Health Lessons I Learned in 2025

    If my podcast has helped, my new book, The Light Between the Leaves, goes even deeper 2025 was one of the hardest years of my life—but it taught me lessons I wouldn’t have learned any other way. In this video, I break down the 14 most important insights that came from pain, mistakes, and hard-earned clarity—and how I’m applying them in 2026.This isn’t motivational fluff or “new year, new you” advice. It’s an honest reflection on emotional health, discipline, relationships, identity, and what actually leads to a life that feels sustainable. 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.

    39 min

  5. JAN 12

    Why You Can Never Find A Therapy Skill That Actually Helps (Turning The Ship)

    Head to https://huel.yt.link/tUoz2cs and & use SCOTT20 to get 20% off your first order of $75+ !Most people don’t get stuck in therapy because they’re not trying.They get stuck because they misunderstand the timeline.Mental health change isn’t like turning a steering wheel and instantly seeing results—it’s more like steering a massive ship. The lag between effort and improvement is longer than you think, and that delay is where people quit… right before the payoff.In this episode, I explain:- Why effective therapy skills often feel “useless” at first- How impatience keeps you cycling through tools without using any long enough to work- Why quick fixes (alcohol, porn, shopping, gambling, etc.) feel tempting—and why they backfire- The mindset shift that makes therapy skills actually stick- A practical way to commit to skills without obsessing over results- If you’ve ever thought, “I tried that and it didn’t work,” this is for you.Next Steps: If my videos have helped, my new book, The Light Between the Leaves, goes even deeperhttps://bit.ly/DrScottLightBetweentheLeavesYT📩 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.

    19 min

  6. JAN 9

    I Have Intense Mood Swings, But I Don’t Have Bipolar Disorder (Cyclothymia Explained)

    Head to https://huel.yt.link/O6TCyKx and & use SCOTT10 to get 20% off your first order of $75+!Minimum spend required. New customers only. #adIf you have intense mood swings but bipolar disorder or major depression never quite felt like the right fit, this video may explain why. I break down Cyclothymic Disorder—a commonly overlooked mood disorder that causes chronic emotional highs and lows without full manic or depressive episodes.We’ll cover symptoms, common misdiagnoses, and evidence-based treatments so you can better understand what’s happening—and what actually helps stabilize your mood.If my videos have helped, my new book, The Light Between the Leaves, 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.

    23 min

  7. JAN 5

    The Antisocial Individual’s Guide To Functioning In Society

    Thanks to Grow Therapy for sponsoring this episode! Head to to the site to find your estimate and get started today!If you’ve never felt like a “people person,” this video is for you. I break down the practical strategies I’ve used to function in society without pretending to love it—or becoming someone I’m not.This isn’t about becoming social, charismatic, or likable. It’s about surviving—and occasionally enjoying—human interaction when your default setting is avoidance.If my videos have helped, my new book, The Light Between the Leaves, 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.

    21 min

  8. JAN 2

    How To Survive This Life If You Weren’t Born Resilient

    Get $50 off at shortform.com/drscott and start learning more from NonfictionSome people are born resilient. Others have to build it from scratch. In this video, I break down what resilience actually is (and what it isn’t), why you can’t will it into existence, and the 10 practical strategies that helped me go from painfully sensitive to functionally resilient in a harsh world.This is for the people who feel everything deeply, overthink everything, and still want to keep going anyway.If my videos have helped, my new book, The Light Between the Leaves, goes even deeperNext Steps: 📩 Get Practical tools for navigating life with depression and anxiety, delivered weekly. Depression 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.

    35 min
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4.8
out of 5
210 Ratings

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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