How I use YouTube to take care of my mental health
YouTube has a bit of everything you could want to consume in video form.
Because of that, it makes sense that your algorithm likely looks very different from mine. Many of my clients are surprised by how many supportive resources already exist at their fingertips—if only they knew what to search for.
Below, I’m sharing my go-to YouTube videos and search terms that I regularly use for nervous system regulation. I’ve organized everything into two main categories: Nervous System Maintenance and Nervous System Crisis Interventions.
Nervous System Maintenance:
Think of this category as the daily or weekly practices that help keep your system balanced and resilient. These are the things you can use when you're not in crisis but want to support yourself, settle your body, and promote parasympathetic states like calm, rest, digestion, and grounding.
Yoga + Meditation
These are my staples for nervous system maintenance. Both practices help down-shift the body into a calmer baseline and support long-term regulation.
Before choosing a video, I usually think about two things:
What discomfort or need am I noticing? (tight lower back, anxiety, fatigue, tension)
How much time do I realistically have?
My YouTube searches often look like:
“yoga lower back pain 10 minutes”
“meditation anxiety 5 minutes”
“gentle morning stretch 15 minutes”
To get you started, here are a few videos and channels I consistently return to:
These are accessible, beginner-friendly, and offer practices of all lengths.
Nervous System Crisis Interventions:
This category is for the moments when things feel NOT OKAY—when your system is overwhelmed, dysregulated, or stuck. These interventions are quick, effective, and designed to meet an activated nervous system where it is.
I’ve broken this section into a few sub-categories so you can easily find what you need in the moment.
Heightened Anxiety
When anxiety spikes, grounding through rhythmic, bilateral, or patterned movements can help your body settle.
Some go-to tools:
EFT tapping – A structured tapping sequence that helps interrupt spiraling anxiety.
Butterfly Hug – A gentle bilateral stimulation technique that soothes the nervous system.
After a Traumatic or Overwhelming Event
When something frightening or overwhelming happens and you’ve reached a place of safety, the body often needs support to complete its stress cycle.
After a threat has passed, animals shake instinctively to release the leftover adrenaline and energy. Humans have this impulse too, but we often suppress it. Intentionally shaking can help clear the “freeze” energy from the body.
Try:
Exiting a Freeze or Functional Freeze State
If you notice numbness, immobility, dissociation, heaviness, or feeling stuck “behind glass,” you may be in a freeze response. Slow, structured somatic exercises can help gently bring the body back online.
Try:
A Final Note
None of these videos can replace therapy, but they can offer real relief and support between sessions. If you notice stronger or more overwhelming reactions after trying any of these practices, that may be a sign that your system needs more individualized care. In that case, working closely with a somatic therapist can help you move through these experiences safely and at a pace that feels right for you.