Thanksgiving happens regardless of anyone's physical or mental well-being.  That can feel cruel.  Anxiety, for example, can be particularly difficult to deal with on a day that can bring such stress.  It's a phenomenon that's been occurring for centuries.

Depression and anxiety often go hand-in-hand. The symptoms of anxiety can lead to depression and vice versa. According to recent insight from Google, the colder, shorter months of winter undoubtedly lead an increased number of people to search the web for information on seasonal depression. Interestingly, the same Google statistics show that search volume for anxiety remains relatively the same during the cold winter months as compared to the summertime. The paradox is that winter also brings on the stressful and anxiety-provoking holiday season.

Social anxiety can be a miserable experience. Symptoms range from mild to extreme, but regardless of the degree of severity, the feeling it creates is miserable. When we're plagued by a fear of being judged, and not just judged but judged negatively, it's hard to relax and enjoy interactions with others.

If you or someone you know has post-traumatic stress disorder, the current time of year might be particularly challenging. The northern hemisphere is well into autumn, and the extensive holiday season is upon us. Celebrations abound in religious and secular communities alike. Beginning in October and extending through December and even into January, many countries and traditions celebrate special things with gatherings, gifts, food, and fun.

When it comes to anxiety, it is important to separate the myths from the facts. There are plenty of anxiety myths we believe to help cope with our symptoms but many of us run into trouble when the myths we believe are simply not true. Perhaps one of the most common and dangerous anxiety myths is that self-medicating can help us get through an anxiety-provoking situation.

Are you anxious about your worrying? Sure, you've got worries. Life is stressful, there’s a lot at stake in our daily lives, and sometimes things go wrong. Worry is part of being human. But do you worry too much? How much is too much? Where is the line between healthy worry and an unhealthy anxiety disorder like generalized anxiety disorder?

Welcome to the Anxiety Schmanxiety Blog! I'm Anthony D'Aconti, the Founder of Breathe Into the Bag, an anxiety magazine created to help people struggling with all types of anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and PTSD. I'm proud to join the Anxiety Schmanxiety Blog and hope that by sharing my experiences and expertise, I'll be able to help you with your anxiety challenges.

Have you seen those posters or t-shirts that read: “I Can’t Stay Calm Because I Have Anxiety”? They’re a play off the trendy t-shirts, posters and other items with the royal crown and the directive to “keep calm and…”. As those of us who experience any form of anxiety are aware, merely reading a sign that tells us to "keep calm" is too simple—easier said than done. On the other hand, don’t believe “I Can’t Keep Calm Because I Have Anxiety.” It’s just not true!

I Understand Anxiety. I Live With It As an emotional human being (aren’t we all?), I’m excited to be writing the Anxiety Schmanxiety blog. Typical of me, I’m also fretful about it. Will what I write be good enough? Will it be helpful? Will readers want to leave comments and interact? What if everyone judges me harshly? Of course I’m imaging an array of negative consequences including certain demise for me and, quite possibly, for you. But don’t worry! I’ve been dealing with this for a long time so I’m used to it. It’s under control – for the most part (I mean, the anxiety is still there, but I’ve learned ways to keep it from ruling me).

All things are transient. This is neither good nor bad. Or, both good and bad. There are things that we love and have in our life that could end, giving us a sense of loss. However, this feeling of grief is also transient. Things are changing for us constantly everyday. Most of it goes unnoticed and much of it is for our betterment. We handle it constantly and well. It is when a change "feels" out of our control that we feel afraid that we can't handle it and panic. No matter how nonsensical, the Anxiety convinces us we will go off some metaphoric cliff, n'er to return.