ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT YOUR ANXIETY?

While Woody Allen and "George Constanza" of the hit TV show "Seinfeld" have made worrying an art form, in real life, persistent anxiety is not so funny.

Sleeplessness, an inability to focus, muscle aches, irritability and excessive worrying could be symptoms of everyday anxiety gone awry. But how can you know for sure?

"Anxiety is one of the most common mental illnesses today," says Dr. Gruen. "At some point, 24 million Americans will suffer from anxiety so severe that it will limit their ability to function."

According to Dr. Gruen, there are several types of anxiety disorders, including:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). "It's normal to feel anxious about something specific, like a relative going into surgery," says Gruen. "If a person has GAD, however, they will have a constant, 'low-grade fever' or anxiety."
• Panic Disorder or Panic Attacks. Panic attacks are sudden episodes of terror that occur for no apparent reason. "Because the symptoms include rapid heartbeat and dizziness, people often think they're having a heart attack."
• Phobias. A phobia starts when someone associates a particular situation or object with intense fear. Phobias are divided into three main categories:
  
  
  • Agoraphobia is a fear of open spaces. "Agoraphobics dislike crowds and avoid going into the mall or to places where there seem to be no barriers," observes Gruen. "They need a 'safety zone' and often refuse to leave their homes."
  • Social phobia is a fear of the presence of others. "Someone who's afraid of speaking in front of an audience or going to a party alone probably has a social phobia."
  • Simple phobias include a fear of bridges, snakes, spiders, heights, escalators or flying.
    
    
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders (OCD) People who suffer from OCD are afraid they'll lose control of themselves, and, to make up for that, try to control their environment. They're afraid of doing something horrific, like harming someone, or doing something socially unacceptable, like cursing. They also fear becoming contaminated.
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  To cope, people with OCD will develop compulsions, such as excessive checking (making sure, over and over again, that a stove is turned off), constant rearranging of objects, and persistent hand-washing. However illogical, these rituals relieve their anxiety. Early warning signs include worrying about minor details, questioning everything, and needing lots of reassurance.

Speaking of reassurance, "A moderate amount of anxiety is a good thing," reminds Dr. Gruen, "helping us to do well on a job interview or staying alert if we're walking alone through a deserted parking lot. It can energize us and keep us on our toes. Once we cross over into a disorder, however, anxiety can affect our quality of life."

The good news is that 70-80% of anxiety suffers can be cured, making it not only the most common mental illness, but also the most treatable emotional problem.