The Psychology of Depression and Anxiety - Dr. Scott Eilers Your brain is trolling you; here’s how to make it stop
Aug 4, 2025
Explore how our brains prioritize survival over happiness, resisting positive change. Delve into the idea of belief systems as mental operating systems, and why they cling to outdated beliefs. Discover the Katamari metaphor, demonstrating how experiences shape our beliefs. Learn practical tools to challenge harmful thoughts and reframe rejection. Dr. Eilers offers insights on handling criticism and emphasizes precise labeling of experiences to transform your mindset.
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Brain Prioritizes Survival Over Happiness
- The brain's primary job is survival, not happiness, so it favors predictability over change.
- That survival bias makes the brain risk-averse and resistant to beneficial transformations.
Belief Systems Act Like Operating Systems
- Belief systems act like operating systems that filter experience and resist updating.
- They prefer sameness, so even when we want change, the brain pushes us to keep the status quo.
Cowboys Fans Illustrate Stuck Beliefs
- Sports fandom shows how past successes can create stubborn, inaccurate beliefs about the future.
- Dr. Scott Eilers uses Cowboys fans as an example of beliefs that don't update with new data.