There’s a moment in every anxious spiral that feels like a trapdoor opening beneath your feet.
Sometimes it comes out of nowhere. A text that feels off. A meeting that didn’t go how you hoped.
A wave of dread that hits while you’re brushing your teeth.
And before you know it, your heart is pounding, your breath is shallow, and your thoughts are racing faster than you can catch them. If you’ve ever been there (and most of us have), you know that the hardest thing to do at that moment is slow down. You also know—deep down—that slowing down is exactly what your body, mind, and spirit need.
That’s where meditation comes in.
Not the Instagram-perfect kind with incense and pristine white robes. I’m talking about the messy, imperfect kind—the kind you do in your car, or while your toddler naps, or during the five minutes before bed when your mind won’t stop spinning.
Why Meditation Feels Impossible When You’re Anxious—and Why That’s When You Need It Most
Anxiety makes our inner world loud. It tightens our chest, shrinks our perspective, and floods our nervous system with adrenaline. Meditation, in contrast, invites quiet. It asks us to pause, to pay attention, to come back to ourselves. And when you’re in survival mode, that can feel not just hard—but impossible.
Here’s the truth: you don’t have to do it perfectly for it to work.
You just have to start.
Research shows that even a few minutes of mindful breathing can calm the amygdala—the part of your brain responsible for fear—and restore a sense of groundedness. But beyond the science, there’s something deeply human about sitting still and choosing to stay. To listen. To breathe. To be.
A Tool, Not a Fix
Let’s be real—meditation isn’t a magic eraser. It won’t cancel your deadlines, fix your relationships, or make the uncertainty of life disappear. But what it can do is create a little space inside of you. A pause between stimulus and response. A moment of self-compassion when you want to run or numb or lash out.
That space is where healing happens.
Start Here: A Free Meditation Playlist for You
If you’re looking for a place to begin, we’ve created something just for you: this free meditation playlist on YouTube. It’s simple, trauma-informed, and made with the realities of Asian American life in mind. You can listen in your car, on a walk, or while you’re winding down from the day. Each meditation was crafted with love by our Yellow Chair Collective team, rooted in the belief that you deserve to feel safe in your body—even when the world feels anything but.
An Invitation
If you’re navigating anxiety right now, I want you to know: you’re not broken. You’re human. And your nervous system isn’t the enemy—it’s trying to protect you, even when it overreacts. Meditation is one way to build a relationship with that part of you. To say, “I see you. I’m here. We’re okay.”
You don’t have to wait for the perfect conditions to get started. You can begin right now—with one breath.And if you’d like some support along the way, press play here. We’ll be right there with you.
Seek An Individual Therapist at Yellow Chair Collective in Los Angeles or New York
If you are seeking therapy specifically tailored to your needs, consider reaching out to the therapists at Yellow Chair Collective. We understand that there may be unique contextual factors that may influence your experiences.
At our Los Angeles, CA, and New York City, NY-based therapy practice, we have many skilled, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive therapists who can provide an empowering therapeutic experience. For your added convenience and simplicity, we offer online therapy for anyone in the state of California or New York. We know that navigating your mental health journey can be challenging, and we want to support you along the way. Follow the steps below to begin.
- Fill out the contact form to get connected with us.
- Get matched with one of our culturally sensitive therapists.
- Start the next step in your healing journey today.
Other Services at Yellow Chair Collective
There are many options for treatment using online therapy in California and New York, it just depends on what you’re needing. And while we certainly service Asian American folks, we also work with individuals from other cultures, too. So, whether you’re needing support in overcoming anxiety, burnout, trauma, or PTSD, we can help. Likewise, we serve teens and couples in need of support, too. So when you start online therapy with us, you can bring your whole self, including past struggles, cultural impacts, and more.
