When you’re living abroad, or planning a big move, it’s completely normal for fear and anxiety to show up. There’s a host of unknowns. Your thoughts can become fast and questioning: Will I like my new country? Will I make friends? How will I manage with limited language skills or find a new place to live?
Just like dating someone new, the uncertainty of change can create all sorts of uncomfortable sensations in your body and a rush of racing thoughts. What if this is a mistake? you might wonder.
The hardest part is not knowing whether to trust your feelings as evidence that you’re making the wrong decision, or whether they’re simply nerves responding to a big transition. In this article, we’ll explore the difference between anxious fear and intuition to help you decipher what your body is really telling you.
How Anxiety and Intuition Feel Different in the Body
It’s important to recognize that moving to another country is a complex and stressful life event, even when you’ve chosen it for yourself. The uncertainty of how you’ll adapt or whether you’ll feel at home in your new environment can naturally bring up nervousness.
But it can also be confusing to know whether these thoughts and feelings are simply part of the adjustment process, or whether they’re signalling something deeper, whether your intuition is trying to tell you that something isn’t right.
Anxiety often feels urgent and pressured, accompanied by tension in the body and racing thoughts. Your mind might leap to catastrophic possibilities or spiral into endless “what ifs.” You may feel a rush to act, because your nervous system is on high alert, trying to protect you from a perceived threat.
Intuition, on the other hand, tends to feel quiet and grounded. It may appear as a sudden sense of “this is true” or a subtle feeling that something is off. Instead of panic, it shows up as a gentle nudge. It’s more like a calm, matter-of-fact clarity rather than a spiraling story.
How Anxiety Speaks Compared to Intuition
Anxiety usually shows up as a stream of thoughts. It tells stories, makes predictions, and jumps to conclusions. You might notice your mind replaying scenarios or imagining worst-case outcomes about your move.
Intuition is different. It doesn’t come with long explanations. It tends to show up as a simple internal signal, something that feels like a clear “yes,” “no,” or “this doesn’t feel right.”
If your mind is busy and noisy, that’s usually anxiety.
If the message feels brief and to the point, it’s more likely intuition.
The Pattern Test
Anxiety tends to have patterns. If you look back, you may notice that the same fears show up during past big changes such as before previous moves, or during relationship shifts. Anxiety often recycles familiar themes, no matter the context.
Intuition is more specific. It doesn’t show up everywhere. It shows up in response to something particular in your environment or situation. It might arise only around a certain decision, interaction, or dynamic.
If the fear seems to follow you from situation to situation, it’s likely anxiety.
If it appears only in one specific context, that’s a sign to listen more closely.
The Values Test: Protection or Alignment?
A helpful way to understand what you’re feeling is to ask yourself whether the emotion is trying to protect you from discomfort or guide you toward something that matters to you. Anxiety usually tries to shield you from uncertainty, potential mistakes, and unfamiliar situations. Intuition, on the other hand, tends to point you toward your values, boundaries, and long-term wellbeing.
Both are trying to look out for you, but they do so in different ways. Paying attention to the intention behind the feeling can make it easier to understand what it’s trying to tell you.
A Simple 3-Minute Exercise
Here’s a quick exercise you can use when you’re unsure what you’re feeling:
Step 1: Ground yourself
Take a slow breath. Feel your feet on the floor. Notice a few things around you.
Step 2: Ask two questions
- If I weren’t feeling anxious right now, what would I know?
- Is this about danger, or discomfort?
Step 3: Notice the tone of the feeling
- If it feels urgent and tense, it’s probably anxiety.
- If it feels calm and straightforward, it’s closer to intuition.
How Counselling Can Help
Whether you’re questioning a move, navigating a relationship abroad or deciding to stay or go, it’s completely normal to doubt yourself or worry that you’ve made the wrong decision. Counselling can provide a safe space to sort through these thoughts and feelings.
Working with a therapist who understands the immigrant experience can help you feel more grounded, clarify what you truly want, and make decisions with greater confidence, no matter where in the world you’re building your life.
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