By Chelsea Kaplan

So you’ve noticed that you’re the only one in your circle of friends who isn’t attached, engaged or married, huh? And you’re starting to feel seriously anxious? You’ve entered the Panic Years. Better known as that precarious time in your single life when you realize it’s time to stop dating for a fling and start dating for a ring, the Panic Years gives a label to the feelings that millions of single women experience every day, says Doree Lewak, author of The Panic Years: A Survival Guide to Getting Through Them and Getting on Your Married Way. Below, find Doree’s suggestions on how to survive and thrive in the Panic Years and end up with your very own happily ever after.

Q: How can a woman know if she’s in the Panic Years?

A: If you consider sending in a fake announcement to your college alumni newsletter about your nonexistent