Sometimes The Best You Can Do Is To Just Survive 

I am tired of just surviving.

But, when that is life for years, you have no life.

I'm in the stage of "I just don't care anymore ". I go to work, come home and only do the things I have to. The remaining time I sit around feeling numb. I stopped having goals because the universe keeps pushing me down. It is absolutely exhausting.

From a 62 year old. You are wise beyond your years.

Please don’t apologize for your metaphors; they *really* help illuminate your message. It really helps me understand and relate it to my life’s situation. Thank you for alleviating some of the guilt.

I hang on to every word this man says....

Life feels like I'm just going through the motions. I used to be youthful and full of enthusiasm. Those days are but a distant memory now. I'm consumed every day with the demands of my job and a desperate need to improve my physical health. At the end of the day, I'm tapped out and just want to crawl under the covers and sleep. Come to think of it, I feel that way 24/7, not just after a grueling work day. I go into work only to look forward to going to sleep later that night. There has to be more to life than just surviving every day and keeping myself from totally cracking up.

I feel like such a failure in survival mode. I know that’s a cognitive loop I get stuck in. This is so helpful!

This is so important to talk about. When I moved my elderly father in with me and my family, it became a two-year period of straight survival mode. I was always frustrated and putting myself down like ' why can't I just get my shit together??' but looking back now I can see I was doing the best I could at that time. Not being mean to yourself about times of "just" survival is really key!

For the last 4 years I have been just surviving. I feel like I can't get my life together. It's frustrating, my friends are planning vacations and I can't go because that money is what I need to keep surviving. There are changes I want to make, but for now I am going to just keep hanging in there.

I am putting this out there because it might help someone. I have been in survival mode begore and it seemed like nothing was going my way. NDepression, lack of energy, withdrawn, etc. I began planting seeds and working in a small garden. Everytime i would do it i would feel better. Now i have a lot of plants and find a bit of joy nurturing them. If you can, try a garden. If thats too much for you now, fet one plant and nurture it. Seeing it grow will give you positive vibes. If you need an indoor plant, try a snake plant. They are easy to grow. I know it sounds corny, but it really does help with endorphins and digging in the dirt has been shown to help with depression. Good luck. ❤❤

You are amazing Dr Scott. Someone who understands. I am always on survival mode. Not sure how much more I can take.

This is why I need to be alone. Having someone try to tell me what to do and when to do it, steels that precious resource of times when I can rebuild

Very important topic. Sometimes I feel awfully exhausted, once I slept 24 hours, it made me feel guilty, but I understand that my body cries for mercy. Our lives are much too much for me. A low intensity life is appropriate for me, therefore I don't envy rich people who don't know what to do more in order to spend the tons of money they have. We are simply different. It should be a place for everyone

I wish this Dr could be my 19 yr old son’s therapist. His adolesence was just like Dr. and he’s in a depressive episode right now. And so am I. You can only be as happy as your most unhappy child. It sucks and never ends.

I have no one, my family is turned their back on me because they don't understand. So I sit and do nothing and I'm stuck and I can't stay stuck because I need to move my rent is ridiculous but I can't get the energy to do it!

When you’ve been into the abyss for multiple times, each day is worth nothing, absolutely nothing. It’s not why, or how you should proceed, it’s that you haven’t even the thought, the perception or will, that’s depression, that’s reality for those Trying to help themselves. Go get washed, dressed, meet up with family or friends, that’s already way too much to perceive yet alone want to do....

I recently lost both my parents in the spam of 12 months, both very traumatic passings. Not long before that my husband’s business took a big hit and I had to go out and find a job after 15 years at home raising kids. I will not even mention the thousands of other things I am having to deal right now. To make things worse the company I am working for ( extremely toxic place I am having to adjust to by the way) is now laying people off and I will have to shift into job hunt gear again out of nowhere…before all these things even happened I was barely making it. My depression and anxiety were on the verge of becoming out of control. Right now I am on automatic pilot. I am numb. Can’t even cry anymore. I am barely surviving..

I'm autistic, so this really resonates with me. I had a severe burnout back in 2021, where I wasn't able to do anything else then lying in a dark room. Screw making/eating food; I literally didn't have the energy for it. Some days, I managed to cut up some vegetables and put them in the fridge so I could live on some meal-prepped tortilla stuff for a while. It was awful. I've dealt with chronic stress after that too, but it's never got that severe again. I think much of it is due to having strategies for how to deal with it, and, also, frankly: having better people around me who do not push me when I'm not in a place to be pushed. These days, sleep is a huge struggle for me. Writing this at 3am, ugh... but hey, went out, met some friends and had a fun time. I'm luckily in a position where I don't have that many external obligations per now, so I can "afford" to do a reset. So, I spend most of my time making sure my diet is on track and that I get my workouts in, and other than that I simply stay at home and read/watch movies. When I have the energy for it, I'll go out to events (like movie screenings, etc.), often by myself. I've learnt the hard way that the worst thing for me now would be to put a lot of pressure on myself and set grand goals of getting up at 5am every morning and falling asleep by 10pm. Sure, that's something to aim for later, but for now it's a matter of "slow and steady".

I’ve been in survival mode for 35+ yrs. 🤷‍♀️ BUT I really connected w/ this’cast and I give you heartfelt thanks ❤️

i've been in survival mode for a couple of years now, the next time I have extra, my next level goal is to have a shower!

I feel like a big problem for me is not "not knowing what phase I'm in", but rather how much I can actually do in those phases. Right now I feel I'm in a complete shutdown most days. I'm already glad when I can get up at some point earlier in the day, shower every couple of days and sometimes go for walks. But I don't know if I should be setting higher goals, like actually going to work for example. And when I'm thriving, I tend to Set myself goals that are way too high. I tend to think I can do everything because now I'm at my full potential. Which then leads to me being very stressed and critizising myself a lot and ending up in survival Mode again. I really try to work on it but it's so hard

At this point, I'm just happy that I can stay functional -- keeping my doctor's appointments, stay on track with my physical and sleep hygiene, getting things done punctually at work, etc.

What i am finding difficult is that when after a few days of pure survival, i get a surplus day or two and start working on things and making simpliest plans: appointments, meetings with friends, doing excercise etc. only to drop them when my next darkness day envelops me. This is so disheartening. And now, when the next surplus day comes, i know that it will be ruined by next few days of survival mode and all my work will be ruined...

I dont have goals anymore lots of hobbies but no ambition to do anything in life I have all the time in the world and I sit and waste it os not helping the situation so lost

My only goal in life is to have peace of mind. That's the only thing that matters to me.. I just want a basic quiet boring peaceful life. I'm working towards it.

Perfect timing. Was just saying to myself, "I think I want a break from my efforts for self improvement and just get by for a while. An okay thing to do. Thanks

Dr Eilers: Ty for specifying that pushing yourself too hard in depression can result in being bedridden. I’ve been pushing myself way too hard to do chores, responsibilities. I have had this happen to me in the past where I ended up bedridden & not able to care for myself therefore I was in the hospital for 3 weeks. A very scary time. Btw, your book will arrive on Saturday. I can’t wait to read it. Ty for your book & time & effort w/the new podcasts. I go back & watch past ones too. Much appreciated.

This is my life right now 100%... Tons of past wins, SUPER WINS. Pursued a dream, working going to school, 7days a week, 12hours+ a day, 3 yrs straight. Was in SUPER THRIVE MODE, and I was happy But... SCORED(as I wanted) and Im grateful. Now, seems like everything I touch, crashes before it takes off and IDKY. 😔 Struggling to find a simple job. Energy and will, just not even there. Now... barely eat, dont watch tv, surviving is...really hard right now. Not cuz Im burnt out, per se, but moreso.. uninspired.

I hate my anxiety 24/7 and I hate myself for who I am

I've been looking for an answer about what is actually happening with my life right now. There were times when everything was very easy, right, and smooth. But since the pandemic, I feel like everything's going wrong. Everything's falling apart. Almost 4 years and nothing changes. In my 37, I keep watching my friends rising higher and higher, while I feel like a total failure compared to them. After watching this video, though, I finally understand that I am actually in a survival mode. That I keep building unrealistic goals while surviving is the only thing I should be focusing on right now. Maybe I'm not a failure after all; just someone who has to survive in certain period of times. Thank you so much, Dr. Scott. I've been subscribing a lot of mental health channels, but I find yours the most helpful of all. It helps me understand better and better.

Thank you Dr. Scott - you have really helped me to have hope that mental health professionals can understand what it feels like. Sometimes in the process of getting help, it feels like we are mistreated as if others know what is best for us based on some general best practice or their opinion which differs from the person we spoke with the day before. Sometimes we don't have the strength to be an advocate for ourselves in that moment and feel violated after. What you are doing, and your book, has changed my mind - thank you for this gift of strength and hope for the future.

I have been in survival mode for 7 years now. & having a very dysfunctional family w sisters/brother who don't really care doesn't help. There are 6 of us in my family, maybe 2 sisters care at the most. No one really understands or seems to care. My dogs and pets are my world, because I know they care.

I feel hopeless they think I can just do the things, I can't, I know it will get better by my past episodes, but I know I need a mind set change, hence being here, with your metaphors 😊 Thank you for your pods, they are giving me hope. 😊

Wow, this described me perfectly right now, and it was simultaneously validating and inspiring. To use my own metaphor, I often say that I'm not even treading water some days, merely survival floating. The economy is poor in my profession right now, and I have four senior rescue pets who are keeping me kind of stuck in a frustrating place and lifestyle. And I have succumbed to pressure to do more during this period because we're told everyone is having it all, we're not working hard enough, blah blah. This was really, really helpful in planning my year moving forward. I can have ambitious goals that I work on in little increments when I have time/energy, so long as my foundation is strong, and I can be more aware of when I'm being overly ambitious and might lose that muskie entirely. Thank you! 💜

Sometimes you're planting seeds. The work is hard and long, and at the end of the day you have nothing but a patch of dirt to show for it. And sometimes you're harvesting a huge crop and have enough left over to share with your entire community. Life really does go in phases, but if you don't do the thankless work of planting seeds, you'll never get a harvest of any kind. Took me til my 40s to realize that I can simply choose to enjoy the work and let come what may.

I’m a research psychologist and I love this channel.

Can you please do a video on how to deal with dysthymia? Even after overcoming a few episodes of severe depression, this chronic low-grade depression keeps affecting my quality of life and it's really tiring. Although I'm having therapy, it's still confusing to navigate through dysthymia.

Buy Dr. Scott's book. When I am having a bad day I read his book. I have not finished it yet because I have re read multiple chapters because they help me get through the day ALOT. When I read it, I'm like "Holy shit! This is exactly how I feel." I have found the chapters to help motivate me, I guess the right word is. Since I have purchased the book, I wake up, make my coffee and read or re read a chapter. I have felt alot of feels reading it, but as a person who has constantly supresses my emotions, it helps me get those emotions out. Thank you, Dr. Scott ❤

I'll be looking forward to this. I'm curious about the phases. I feel like I've been in just survive mode for decades.😆 I'd love to be in thrive mode!

Having PTSD and an abusive marine Corp father, my life became all about perfection which is both exhausting and debilitating and it took me many years to understand that sometimes that's all I really can do is stay alive. It sometimes lasts a long time but I have been able to accomplish things during more - thriving - times. But I congratulate myself on 2 major things: over 25 plus years of therapy I have changed the course of life for my own daughter but even more so, I've had the ability to see my grandchildren absolutely thrive in the most normal and loving way! My ex husband and I remained friends to accomplish this. Yes, there are some bad months or even years but I look to those grandchildren and know we helped break the cycle

Loved your metaphor❤! Fisher woman myself. Soo got your message. Been in Survival mode for 15yrs. Many health issues. Past 10yrs stuck like quicksand. Used to do exactly what you said to do! Then, bad spiral Insomnia. Allowed my Psychiatrist to put me on Quetiapine 4 sleep. NO, not bipolar. Helped a little. But - it made me Not Care. Begged smtg else, NO! Raise dose. Then, since not bipolar, I didn't care that I didn't care!!! Quit cleaning, bathing, eating, quit life. Oh, nice side effect - it made all my teeth fall out! That was & is a horrid thing! Stolen a big joy - cooking & eating. Moral - NEVER ALLOW ANYONE TO THINK THEY KNOW WHAT YOU NEED WHEN YOUR GUT SAYS - HELL NO! This (whatever "this" is) Not for me! I didn't need a pill. I needed to get away from the 10,000 undone stuff - go to the beach for at least a week & recharge my mind, ❤ & soul. Reconnect with myself. Yet to get there, literally. Now, so sick, be a miracle if I could even make the 8hr trip. Hang on firm to your core intuitive nature, especially when a "higher" knowledge type has to convince you to do what they want!

So glad I found your videos this morning as I am what you talk about. I am sure you get this all the time but would love a one on one with you. I am 65 and just feel why try to fix me now. I would just love to be at peace with myself before I pass. I once seen a guy at the age of 20 but he got arrested for molesting two of his patience so I stopped going. One big issue I have is it goes through my head is just end it but this has gone through my head every day even as a kid. I have done good by pushing it away every day but it gets tiring but every day is a win. Maybe one day I will find peace, but I don't think so.

Thank you so very much for this much helpful video. It was really liberating to know that it’s okay to just survive (at times), you don’t always have to achieve and perform to your fullest in life. It helped me to put less pressure on myself moving forward. May God bless.

Thanks so much for the video; it was great!! It definitely all made sense; I liked the fishing metaphor. It took me a long time to realize I was setting goals that were way too ambitious and setting myself up for failure. The smaller goals for things like bathing and getting out of bed by a certain time tend to seem like "not enough" to my brain. Other times, the second I feel okayish, I go WAY too hard and burn myself out. I just do too much. I've been in survival mode for a long time and at this point I'm way too scared to leave but I'm still going to therapy so I guess I'll just have to see what comes of that. That being said there have been very few times where I was truly able to flourish and thrive. I was able to explore certain things like jobs and hobbies but they didn't last long. So I've definitely been stuck in a cycle that not only fuels itself but works as a self-fulfilling prophecy and offers a lot of evidence to my fears of continuing to try and move forward in this thing called "recovery".

Made sense. I'm so glad I found your channel. I've just climbed out of a pit and teetering on the edge and know that unless I start using the solid ground to move forward I'll fall back in. But the pit got somewhat comfortable and didn't take anything out of me (other than taking everything out of me) so I'm struggling for momentum to head out into the open. This conglomerate of metaphors really helped. I need to not waste that little bit of gas and gently touch the pedal and start to move forward. I'm going to go fold a pile of laundry and spend 20min in messy spare room and 20 min in messy basement and that will be enough for today other than surviving. Thanks!

Yes. Loving and looking after yourself at the worst times means saying no to anything beyond survival mode and not second guessing yourself. Be proud you know it's time to take care of yourself. Then later if that excess energy happens or you feel alive to challenges beyond surviving, you probably wont even hesitate about saying yes because you are already thinking and feeling yes before whoevers asking has finished asking.... Thats my interpretation of your speech sir. Im currently in survival mode because of big illness flare up so this video very useful and reassuring to hear right now. Thankyou 👍👍👍

Video was really helpful. I am in survival mode for a long time now. My body just doesn't allow me to push for something big, to aim high. If I try, I get severely punished. I have not woken up in the morning and felt energetic EVER. I am always tired. Always looking for an opportunity to take a break. Tried everything, did every test possible. But nothing comes out. It is not a life I value anymore. It is just being alive, not living.

You speak directly to my soul and in a way telling me "it's okay". Thank you ❤

Thank you so very much for this video!!! Not only is it helping me through things. Hut helping realize and think more realistic . Allowing me to revert my depression into recovery and repair

This video had me in tears. I really needed to hear this. Thank you 😊

The title to this one made me burst into tears. I've been numb for months.

I cant vbegin to explain how I got where I am. Short synopsis- alcoholic parents, violent dad, toxic shame foster family, highly sensitive personality, married a covert narcissist for 30 years, ended with me being publicly humiliated and no family (or severely dysfunctional that is) support. Isolated . Covid and moved (since 2017) about 8 times with about 10 jobs fired from about 4 of them. Getting steadily disregulated more and more. My anxiety since Covid has been tripled. I have no money to get help and I’ve lost myself. The survival mode is stuck and I’m tired and exhausted. The failures never stop. I do not know what to do. People are very selfish and uncaring too. I don’t want a handout just help to get some stability and calm in my life. I need to belong and be in a safe place emotionally, financially. I’m 61 and I’m going to lose my job probably and I’ve been applying to every place I feel I could do the work. No one wants to hire me and I’m fixing to be living in my car. I’m so scared and tired of trying.

“I believe I've passed the age / of consciousness and righteous rage / I found that just surviving was a noble fight.” That's from a song by Billy Joel in his album, Turnstiles, called Prelude/Angry Young Man. I’ve had those verses in my head for over forty years now…

Thank you, currently very ill, lost 45 lbs...sitting at another Dr office today...joy.

Nobody has ever been as much help as this my whole life! A lifeline in shark infested waters. Thank you so much.She

Honestly just so freaking helpful! I am beyond grateful to have this explained in such a way that I get it, like really am able to internalize.

Thankyou ❤❤❤ as those positivity people make me feel terrible or a negative person for doing what need to do to get through because thats all I can do sometimes

I cannot express how grateful I am for you and this channel! I've been in therapy for almost a year while simultaneously in active burn out from my employment and experiencing severe emotional dysregulation on top of other diagnoses (anxiety, CPTSD, depression, ADD & a Chiari malformation). I've been asking all the right questions, but not getting any answers. I just want to understand what's happening in my brain so I can calm my nervous system and thrive again. So grateful for your channel. You've literally saved my life as i struggle a great deal with the " ending it all thoughts" almost every day. Thank You 🙏

I can truly relate.... especially with my declining health and living somewhere I don't want to be...praying I can find affordable housing where I feel at ease ..that I can enjoy before my health declines any further..

I'm in this "mode" of life right now. Have been for the past few years. It's pretty foreign to me because... even though I've always struggled with depression and severe anxiety... I've never experienced a complete lack of feelings. Long story short I was forced to move out of my apartment during Covid and in with MY PARENTS. 😮 I'm FIFTY THREE. I'm on disability as well. My parents... esp my mother is extremely narcissistic. It's like being in a nightmare. I'm utterly shocked by how much my personality and thoughts have changed since living with them. The emotional and mental abuse I've taken from them has turned me into a shell of myself. I'm in the process of making plans to leave. But then I feel GUILTY because they're both in their late 70's. My anxiety is through the roof every single day. Sometimes I don't even know how I got through the day before? But I'm doing my best. It can't last forever! Nothing does...❤

Dont ever stop using your metaphores!!!!!!...another crystal clear message got through...cornwall England

We luv your metaphors too,Scott. Omigosh, i remember the weather extremes of Iowa. The extended coldsnaps and the severe weather in Spring/early summer. We used to run the hills after storms bcuz the air was so fresh. Last 2 days have been like moving thru molasses. May be overtraining and still adjusting to intermittent fasting. Drinkimg coffee less frequently.but the days I do, I overdo it and then I pay in terms of eating wrong, sleep bla blah Aye,yi yi..its progress not perfection. Great discussion, Scott. Thx

FINALLY ~ somebody who GETS it. Thank you so much (and also, I actually understand better with metaphors ^^)

You so get it! I so appreciated hearing how you described the last 10 years of my life...I did come to realize recently that some things are just out of my control, and things are unfolding/have their own timeline. Just trying to identify and honor what I need moment to moment to get through this period of collapse of my former life.

Thank you for this, Dr Scott. I feel like my entire life has been stuck in survival mode. I can barely recall a time I wasn't crawling on my hands and knees and dragging myself around to do anything. I've been in a serious depressive state since the holidays, and it's not getting any better. I'm going to therapy regularly and try to spend time with friends and take time for myself, but my body is so drained that I can't do much else to function. Getting really tired of this. I don't expect four decades of abuse and neglect to disappear quickly, but I had hoped for a little break in the misery as I started trying to heal nearly three years ago. I knew when I finally confronted the pain that it wouldn't go away without a fight, but I did not expect to be in such a deeper hole now than I was when everything fell apart. This stinks. Thank you again for your sage advice.

That analogy made me feel less guilty for not being able to help around the house like I did last week.

This is a great topic I go through this all the time 10 Steps forward then 10 steps back. I have cPTSD AND I FUNCTION THEN I JUST TRY TO SURVIVE I GET DEBILITATED!!! I live with people who don’t understand and are so toxic !!! This is so helpful but can you do a video on how to set BOUNDARIES WHILE DEALING WITH THIS SITUATION IT IS AWEFUL AND SETS ME BACK MORE

I have been in survival mode for a long time. My husband thinks the way to make me “wake up” from the depression fog is to keep telling me the dishes need to be done or the laundry needs to be folded. Repeating himself and shaking his head. “I just don’t understand,”he keeps saying.

I've been in survival mode for way too many years between burnout and health crisises with close loved ones. It's a rare day when I have energy at the end of a day. But I needed to hear your message. It made so much sense. Not sure when I'm going to pull out of this burnout/rut enough to build, but your wisdom rings true.

Thank you Dr. Scott. I go through many depressive episodes. Usually , I just do the main things I have to do that day.

You nailed it doc. That explanation sums up almost perfectly how my life has evolved. I thought it was just me. But hearing you explain it like you did, gives me some comfort. I have to work with what I have. Thanks for the channel.👍

Jesus, this is me nailed. It’s what I’ve been saying for years. Thank you for understanding.

1/31/24 - You got my attention Between the strive and the survive I identify with these two words I can feel when I thrive I can feel when I survive In between these two I vacillate Hypo and down depress sad I do recognize birth circumstance environment etc attribute to one's welbeing-welfare I do work at balance / counterbalance To Live-life to maintain a sense of accomplishment self worth peace I recognize my self awareness to Embrace bring together my mind-thoughts projection Inner / outer Esoteric Exoteric Great good and Great harm And I see my thriving for what it is And I see my surviving for what it is So yes I fail and yes I find accomplishment Also, I include a regiment of physical exercise 1hr - 2hr 6days Also, I eat healthy and I do feed the beast junk-foods So it is willingness to work to find that balance / counter balance In between the rain drops and my live-life Ty for your insightfullness

Not important to the subject - but I just wanted to make a suggestion. I LOVE that your have your framed certificates and RU-vid plaque behind you. REALLY love that you have your framed book cover too. (I have it on order!) But your light source for your video work is reflecting over the NI in BURNING. Doesn't change the quality of your message, I'd just like to see your book cover in all it's glory. Maybe mover the light slightly over or tilt the frame so the glass doesn't reflect into the camera. Thanks again for what you do!

I love your metaphors! They are so helpful.

This came just in time. Thanks man

Every choice i make almost always induces a panic attack. Im taking classes online, and they started yesterday, and it already feels like I've made a massive miatake and wasted my money. I went to school in canda for a 12 month program, induces it was lowkey a scam. It seems like ever Decision ive made has ended up bad. It feels like ive fucked up my life permently and theres nothing i can do to get it back on track. I hate constantly feeling like a failure.

Building and rebuilding, is life itself for all of us. Do one kind thing a day for yourself, you owe it to your lovly self;) iam enough in this damn world:) repeat out loud throughout the day:) ❤

Once you mentioned the muskies you definitely got my attention. I live in Wisconsin and it was my childhood dream to catch a muskie - and now that I'm 38 it's something I'm actively hoping to do sometime soon. (and as someone who struggles with severe anxiety caused by OCD and the accompanying depressive episodes, I appreciate your videos a great deal 🙏)

We love the metaphors don't worry!!! ❤😂 great advice thank you

Okay, this was one of the most useful things I have heard for a long time. Gonna try to use the strategy. I'm caring for a friend who is quite narcissistic as well as coming down with Alzheimers. In his 70s. A big demand on my energy. I have various mental illnesses on top of this. But the strategy is to rest and survive when timing allows, and reel in that big fish when I got some slack. Yes. I can do that. I might catch a big fish!

Definitely one of your greatest videos! Being a legit Fisherman, I was literally hooked on the storyline. Unfortunately, I am know exactly what SURVIVAL MODE is all about right now.

Oh… I am here. Trying to not feel defeated from the moment I wake up. I’m guessing trying to get one thing to look forward to every month or so, like some sort of lighthouse to get me to meet a few healthy goals and get me through this next year.

Right now just messaging you and saying you are spot on with your information is a big victory for me today!

One of my favorite song lyrics is "I can be thankful to be alive, but I despise this life / In all my years, at best, I've I only learned just to survive". That really is how it feels sometimes.

Resilience. Tower is building resilience.

Tried explaining some of this to my counselor & it didnt end well..either i explained it incorrectly or something cuz they just went back to the same ole 'just do exercise, etc' & you'll feel better 😒🤨

Definitely makes sense. And it helps me to forgive myself for not having accomplished more. Thank you.

Great advice! For those of us who struggle with depression and anxiety, we have to learn how to balance our time and energy.

Thanks scott great video

Your channel has taught me so much in just a day. I'm shocked at how much your content speaks to me. I keep beating myself up for not thriving like other 20-somethings but I now am realising that this just isn't the stage of my life where I am going to thrive, I need to slowly build myself back up first and heal. This takes the pressure off a lot tbh.

Thank you for your videos Dr Scott. One of my top goals in my trauma therapy is to learn how to stop living in survival mode and learn how to thrive. Thank you for being my online therapist in between sessions. You are very helpful.

This actually resonated a lot more than I initially thought it would. Thank you!

Really glad I discovered your channel Dr Eilers. I've found your videos to be very clear, non-judgmental, and they really help lift the veil of depression/anxiety with explanations, advice, and yes, the use of metaphors ;) Thank you for your valuable time and expertise.

Omigosh, I love how you’re explaining life like Muskie fishing! Super good analogy. I am also like really not into Muskie fishing…cause then you get that big icky thing in the boat. Ew. Thank you. I love your channel. 💕

I like your videos and you are a great help for so many people. So what do I do, when my survival mode periods last months to years, but my good periods can be maybe one or two days long? It´s not enough time to build something that lasts or actually helps on the long run. Yes I know start small and move from there, but I don´t have any feeling that I´m moving somwhere.

Great examples. Thank you for your work Dr.🙏

I really loved this video! Again - so relatable! I‘ve been in survival mode most of my adult life. 20 years ago I took on a job that doesn’t really suit in terms of stress level. But all these years I never really had the feeling that my head was sticking out of the water far enough to have a clear view of what other options I might have. Not to mention the constant lack of energy to persue other things and the fear of ending up in an unemployment situation if a job change goes wrong.

62 years old. Too different. Being badly bullied by couple I rent from & the other tenant where I rent. It's been going on for years & i have been LIED about to the extent that there is a RESTRAINING ORDER on ME, of all ppl. To have my honesty projected as dishonesty has nearly broken me. The therapist diagnosed me as bipolar bc I had meltdowns over being abused to such a devastating extent. I have NO ONE. All the places that are supposed to help dont. It isnt a 'get over it' situation. I've been smeared all over town. I've had to pull my life back together so many times...im a GOOD PERSON there is NO REASON FOR THIS. I can barely work, I hate hate hate leaving my house, the behavioral health place therapists dont think it's a BIG DEAL! Most of the time I just want to die. So I RESENT this. I TRY. I'm being psychologically tortured but oh it's a phase in life.