#shawleveryday2019 Day 87

In Japan and around the world, an extreme form of social withdrawal called hikikomori is becoming a mainstream problem. Hikikomori is defined as people who have not left their homes or interacted with others for at least 6 months. It affects both men and women and typically people ages 15 to 30, although there is growing concern that hikikomori continues to affect people as they get older.

Causes for hikikomori aren't known exactly, but it is related to various cultural and social pressures such as academic success and knowing what you want to do as an adult. There is suggestion that Japan, as an advanced industrialized society, fails to provide adequate transition from adolescence to adulthood. As a result, the inability to cope with the intimidating social expectations and increased feelings of worthlessness or shame can cause people to isolate themselves from society.

Treatment for hikikomori is difficult, because mental health stigma is strong in Japan.
There are programs such as Rental Sister, where volunteers talk with the hikikomori and encourage them to venture outside. One case study used a strength-based approach to find the person's strengths and apply them to real-life situations to build up positive thinking and self-image.

Since it can be hard to treat hikikomori after it has set in, prevention techniques are crucial.

• encouraging peer contact
• teaching and rehearsing social skills
• discouraging avoidance behaviors
• wean excessive internet usage in favor of real life experiences
• teaching skills to cope with anxiety and negative thoughts
  

Additional resources

• Wikipedia - Hikikomori
• GQ - People in Japan are increasingly shutting themselves off from society
• Business Insider - A psychological ailment called 'hikikomori' is imprisoning 500,000 Japanese people in their homes
• International Positive Psychology Association - Applying Strengths from the Virtual World to the Real World
• Psychiatric Times - Preventing and Treating School Refusal and Severe Social Withdrawal

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