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Nearly 90% of individuals, more of which are women, report feeling symptoms of social anxiety (i.e. shyness) at some point in their lives. Half of the individuals with any social fears meet criteria for social anxiety disorder. The function of social anxiety is to increase arousal and attention to social interactions, inhibit unwanted social behavior, and motivate preparation for future social situations.

It can be easier to identify social anxiety within adults because they tend to shy away from any social situation and keep to themselves. Common adult forms of social anxiety include performance anxiety, public speaking anxiety, stage fright, and timidness. All of these may also assume clinical forms, i.e., become anxiety disorders (see below). Studies show that women are more prone to such disorders due to many differences in things as complex as brain chemistry or as simple as events that have occurred throughout their lives.

Prescribed medications include several classes of antidepressants: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Other commonly used medications include beta blockers and benzodiazepines. These medications may have a few different side effects. Side effects vary depending on the medication that has been prescribed. It is the most common anxiety disorder with up to 10% of people being affected at some point in their life.