I strongly suspect it's that. Not because I have any real statistical information to back it up, but as loathe as I am to admit it, I think at this point I fit the definition for hikkikomori. And on the few occasions I've tried to find others like myself, doing so wasn't exactly hard. I don't know how different I am in that I actually used to have something of a normal, if very reserved social life. I fell into this current, but long-lasting deep isolation later on, post-youth, so maybe I'm just a hermit.

Most of what I've read (which isn't all that much) is that in the US and other western countries, people who fit the description usually just get categorized in with others with extreme depression and anxiety disorders, since that's virtually always part of the hikkikimori package. But that the US equivalent to hikkikimori lifestyle isn't really counted or studied as a phenomenon unto itself. There is some study of NEETs, but that usually doesn't have as much to do specifically with extreme social isolation as with the economic factors for not working or being in school. I've been diagnosed with AvPD, Avoidant Personality Disorder, and at least as of a few years back, I wasn't the only hexbear to say so. My suspicion is that this disorder strongly correlates with a very similar kind of lifestyle to the hikkikimori in Japan.

[–] Belly_Beanis@hexbear.net 10 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Yah I've been a NEET now for over a decade due to disability and mental illness. It's not classified as "hikkikomori" I think because a lot of NEETs still have some social activities to participate in.

Otherwise, we recognize it as agoraphobia when someone doesn't leave their dwelling. Not sure how Japan classifies it or what their treatments are for it. A lot of mental illnesses and phobias are cultural or have cultural aspects to them that affect treatment. John Nash's schizophrenia manifested as aliens sending him secret codes through radio signals and newspapers, for example. In the 1500s it would have been something else entirely.

[–] WokePalpatine@hexbear.net 5 points 5 days ago

Also don't know how common hikkikomori is just because like at least 1/3 of parents in US/Canada want to throw their kids out at 18 and tell them to be homeless if they can't. I have a feeling younger generations of parents aren't like that as much but they also have the least money to support jobless children so they're probably going to be pushing them to at least work part-time or do something to make any sort of money to help out.