A brand new year is almost upon us. It’s a time for inward reflection and taking charge of our renewal. This is an excellent time for reflecting upon and resolving to take charge of anxiety. In my own reflecting, I thought of ten resolutions for regaining power from the beast that is anxiety. I don’t like to think of them as New Year’s resolutions, for New Year’s resolutions are notorious for being broken. I like to think of them as “New Me” resolutions. Perhaps you might want to resolve to do some of these as you take charge of your own anxiety.

I'm sure you've heard these statements: He's so OCD. Quit being so OCD. This is just my OCD coming out. The term OCD has become common in our society.  Stigma turned OCD into an adjective that we frequently use to describe someone who likes things a certain way. However, OCD, short for obsessive-compulsive disorder, is much more than a compulsion for neatness.

The first time I saw actress Jennifer Lawrence on the silver screen – for her critically-acclaimed role as Katniss Everdeen in the Hunger Games – I was nothing short of impressed by her incredible talent and acting ability. Considering the unprecedented success of the film, it’s safe to say I wasn’t the only one who found Lawrence captivating on her mission to conquer the epic battle known as the Hunger Games. But there is something else about Jennifer Lawrence that intrigued me – that the actress once suffered from severe social anxiety. Needless to say, I found her battle with social anxiety as fascinating as her battle in the movie.

Deadlines to meet. Meals to plan. Shopping to do. Meetings to join. Classes to attend. Work to do. Children to taxi. Aging parents to help. Laundry to wash. Lawns to mow. Etc. Etc. Etc. What if you forget? What if you make a mistake? What if? What if? What if? Dire consequences. Dire consequences. Dire consequences. The anxiety is a constant companion. Day and night. Day and night. And night. And. Night. Anxiety is awful. When it robs us of sleep, it becomes torturous. Why is that, and what can be done about it?

"Anxiety" is a very broad term, encompassing many different experiences. In addition to situational anxiety, there are a variety of anxiety disorders that disrupt people's lives. All are different, but all share a crucial aspect: they affect our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and each anxiety disorder has the power to knock us completely off course.

It's safe to say I've been a procrastinator for as long as I can remember. Before I learned about anxiety disorders, I always thought the single greatest driving factor behind procrastination was laziness. After discovering the truth about anxiety and procrastination, I now see the deeper meaning behind putting things off.

I remember my first experience with group therapy. While enrolled in a day program – the next step in the treatment process after a brief hospitalization – I reluctantly sat down with a therapist along with a handful of individuals also struggling with social anxiety disorder, among other mental health ailments. Five days a week, the therapist reinforced the role of cognitive behavioral therapy - to help us change our thoughts and perceptions. (Social Anxiety Treatment) Among the most common statements shared with the group included “we are in a safe place now” and “how did that make you feel?”

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.