Anxiety: Why Your Internal Alarm Gets Stuck

It’s the constant hum beneath the surface—a feeling of unease as you navigate a packed social calendar, a racing heart before a high-stakes meeting, or a sense of dread that settles in on a quiet Sunday evening. For many expats in Amsterdam, life is a delicate balance of incredible opportunities and immense pressures. Anxiety can feel like an unavoidable tax on the ambition and excitement of building a life abroad.

But while anxiety is a universal human experience, it doesn't have to be a constant state of being. Understanding what anxiety is and how it works is the first step toward changing your relationship with it and finding a lasting sense of calm.

Why Your Internal Alarm Gets Stuck

At its core, anxiety is your body’s internal alarm system. It’s a brilliant, evolutionary tool designed to protect you from danger. It fires up when you’re about to step in front of a speeding tram, giving you the jolt of adrenaline you need to jump back to safety. In these moments, anxiety is your ally.

The problem arises when this alarm gets stuck in the “on” position. For expats, the constant novelty—new social rules, unfamiliar professional landscapes, the pressure to succeed far from home—can trick this system into seeing threats everywhere. The fear of saying the wrong thing at a borrel, the pressure to prove yourself in an international team, or the worry of not truly belonging can all trigger the same physiological response as a real, physical danger.

The Cycle That Keeps You Trapped

When anxiety becomes chronic, we naturally try to escape the discomfort. This often leads to a pattern of experiential avoidance, a cycle that inadvertently makes the anxiety stronger over time.

It works like this:

1. Trigger: A thought or situation sparks a feeling of anxiety.

   
   

2. Discomfort: The physical and mental sensations of anxiety feel overwhelming.

   
   

3. Avoidance: To get short-term relief, you avoid the trigger (e.g., you decline an invitation).

   
   

4. Reinforcement: In the short term, you feel better, but your brain learns a dangerous lesson: "The party was a threat, and I was right to avoid it. I can't handle situations like that."

   
   

This cycle shrinks your world, reinforcing the belief that anxiety is a sign of danger rather than just a feeling.

How Anxiety Therapy Helps Break the Cycle

The goal of anxiety therapy in Amsterdam is not to eliminate anxiety, but to help you step out of this cycle and build the resilience to live a full life, even when anxiety is present.

Understanding Your Roots: We help you explore the deeper beliefs and past experiences that fuel your anxiety. By understanding the "why," you can begin to address the source of the alarm, not just the symptom.

Building New Skills: We equip you with practical, evidence-based tools from approaches like cognitive therapy and mindfulness. You will learn how to notice anxious thoughts without getting entangled in them and how to make space for uncomfortable feelings without letting them dictate your actions.

Taking Courageous Action: Therapy provides a supportive space to gradually face the situations you’ve been avoiding. By taking small, manageable steps toward what you value, you teach your brain that you are capable and that anxiety does not have to be a barrier.

Your Path to Lasting Calm

You don't have to navigate the complexities of anxiety alone. At Aurore Counseling, we specialize in helping expats find their footing and build a life that feels both successful and serene. We provide a safe, non-judgmental space to understand your anxiety and develop the tools you need to thrive. As English-speaking and French-speaking therapists, we are here to support you in the language that feels most comfortable.

It’s time to move from a life ruled by anxiety to one guided by your values. Take the first step toward finding your calm in Amsterdam today.