5 YouTube Videos On Anxiety and Depression That You Can Watch Right Now

There are a lot of resources out there for people struggling with mental health issues, and while that’s wonderful, it can also feel overwhelming. It can be hard to know where to start. You may not be in a place where you feel like you can read or consume dense materials, or maybe you’re simply interested in a few short introductions. This is why I’ve compiled a list of five videos, mainly covering anxiety and depression, that you can watch right now. They are all under ten minutes, with some being under five. While this list focuses primarily on anxiety and depression, it also includes a discussion of depersonalization, manic-depressive disorder and how to build a support system around these issues.

Content warning: discussion of anxiety, depression, manic-depressive disorder, hopelessness, worthlessness, institutionalization, self-harm and suicidal ideation.

In this gripping video, Alice verbalizes a letter to her anxiety, who she addresses as her “oldest friend”. She personifies her anxiety, and in this way, makes it separate from her. She is not her anxiety, but rather, anxiety is a friend who has been with her since she was a child.

Alice tells her anxiety that, “When I’m with you, I feel like I don’t exist. I feel like I’ve lost myself”. She needs time apart from her old friend. She needs to move on from their relationship in order to live her life. In just over two minutes, Alice puts forth this powerful message, addressing her anxiety and inspiring her viewers.

If you wrote a letter to your anxiety, what would you say?

Marina unpacks twelve remarks that depressed people are tired of hearing. These unwanted statements fall under three categories: “remarks that minimize mental illness,” “telling people how to “fix” their mental illness” and “commenting on disordered habits”. She discusses why these statements are problematic and harmful for people suffering from depression.

If you are someone who has dealt with depression, this video might feel validating. Have you heard any of these remarks? How did they make you feel and how did you react to them?

This video is also an educational resource for those who have never been depressed. Perhaps you're guilty of thinking or saying some of these things. Hopefully, after watching this, you will understand why these statements are wrong. Don't feel guilty if you've expressed some of these things in the past, just try not to say them in the future, and instead learn about how you can really support the depressed people in your life.

In this short video, Noah reminds people that they will be alright, even if they don't feel that way right now. This video, as well as the others on his channel, is especially touching because he speaks from personal experience as a survivor of mental illness.

One of the main things that he emphasizes is that "Change will come". He urges his viewers to "control what you can," "try not to make things worse" and "just hold on". No matter how hopeless or stuck someone may feel, they will not feel that way forever. If they can just survive, then eventually they can come out on the other side of their mental illness. This doesn't necessarily mean that it will be completely gone, but that things will, at some point, start to get better.

Does this resonate with you?

Autumn Asphodel delivers an overview of manic depressive disorder in this video, adding details from her personal experience. This video is important because it provides some basic, factual information about an often misunderstood disorder.

She provides definitions to terms and covers the different symptoms associated with manic depressive disorder, as well as the ways in which these symptoms affect her. As an example, she cites "lack of interest" as a symptom of bipolar depression, saying that "I lose all interest in almost everything I had enjoyed before, including eating". She provides information on how long her depressive and manic episodes typically last, as well as cites how she can have certain "outlier" days that do not correspond with these episodes.

How closely does your experience of manic depressive disorder resemble Autumn's? Did this video challenge any of the ideas or misconceptions you may have had about this disorder?

Kristen discusses how those dealing with mental illness can create a physical map of the people in their life they can go to when they are struggling, and what these people can do to support them. She provides a visual example in her video, listing names, contact info and information on the type of support each person provides.

This is a great idea for anyone, regardless of whether or not you are struggling with mental illness. These visual maps can be accessible and easily available during emergencies or points where you need to be reminded to reach out. As someone who has dealt with anxiety and depression before, I know how difficult it can be to break through the wall and ask for help. These support system sheets can remind you that you are loved and cared for, and that you don't have to be alone.

Have you tried something like this before? Was it helpful? Do you plan on trying this in the future?

I hope that you found these videos helpful and informative. I know I did. Sometimes bite-sized information presented through an interactive medium can be easier to digest. Though if you would like to learn more, there are plenty of resources out there. Many of these videos provide links to other resources in their description boxes.

If you would like to see more lists like these in the future, please say so in the comment section below.