Maybe it's the constant what-ifs. The racing heart before a meeting. The symptom you've Googled five times this week. Slowly, anxiety takes over the steering wheel, and life gets smaller than you want it to be.
I'm Szofi, an English-speaking NIP Psychologist® offering anxiety therapy in Amsterdam and online. Together, we make room for anxiety, so it stops running the show.
Tap the ones that sound like you
If a few of these sound like you, you're not broken, and you're definitely not alone.
Your mind never really switches off. You replay, plan and double-check, and still don't feel settled.
Sudden waves of fear that feel physical and overwhelming, and the dread of the next one.
Every sensation feels like a warning sign, and no amount of reassurance settles it for long.
Read more below ↓A growing list of places and situations you steer around, until your world quietly gets smaller.
Life feels like one long to-do list, and even rest doesn't feel restful anymore.
You don't need a label to reach out. We can figure it out together in the free intro call.
Health anxiety is more than worrying about your health now and then. It's when a headache, a skipped heartbeat or a strange spot takes over your whole day, and no test result or doctor's visit settles it for long. It's sometimes (not so kindly) called hypochondria, and it's far more common than most people think. The good news: there are ways to loosen its grip, so it no longer runs your days.
A twinge, a flutter, something that feels "off".
"What if it's something serious?"
Googling, checking your body, asking for reassurance, avoiding anything health-related, or booking another appointment.
For a moment, things feel okay.
…until the next sensation.
I specialized in Health and Medical Psychology during my Master's at Leiden University. But my understanding of health anxiety doesn't only come from books: I've struggled with it myself for years. I know what it's like to be deep in the cycle, the endless checking, the late-night Googling, the relief that never lasts.
That's exactly why I do this work: I know it's possible to find your way out, and I'd love to help you do the same. You can read more about how ACTualize started.
The anxiety is still there. But your hands are free again.
Calm down, think positive, avoid what triggers it. It makes sense, and it often helps for a moment. But the more energy goes into getting rid of anxiety, the more space it tends to take up.
It's like a tug-of-war with a monster: the harder you pull, the harder it pulls back.
In our work together, we practice dropping the rope. With Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), you learn to notice anxious thoughts and feelings without letting them make your decisions, and to put your energy back into what matters to you.
Read more about working together, or find answers in the FAQ. The easiest first step is a free intro call, with no commitment.
ACTualize isn't intended for crisis situations or severe psychological disorders. If your anxiety turns out to need more specialized care, I'll help you find the right place. If you're in crisis, please contact your GP, the out-of-hours GP service (huisartsenpost), or call 112 in an emergency.
