Hikikomori – What is It? Is It a Mental Health Condition?

Hikkomori, the term, came into existence in Japan in the 1990s. It describes adolescents who like spending time alone in their house. These people are of working age, yet instead of socializing, they love to live in isolation, and this number is increasing after the pandemic.

In Japan, an average of 1.5 million people are struggling with Hikkomori. Although it is not a clinical condition or a term defined in DSM V, living without physically interacting with people and stopping to socialize is not healthy.

It can increase the risk of mental health disorders and social well-being. But why do young people love living alone, and what is hikikomori? How can one deal with it? This is exactly what we are going to focus on in this post.

 What is Hikikomori?

Hikikomori is a combination of two words: Hikki, which means withdrawal or pulling inward, and Komori, which means being inside. It is something similar to failure to launch. This cultural phenomenon describes adolescents who have cut ties with society and lived with their parents for longer periods.

These individuals are usually reluctant to attend school or work, and they show this behavior for months or years. You can find a detailed explanation for the term in the book Hikikomori: Adolescence Without End by Japanese psychiatrist Saito Tamaki.

Some believe that the existence of this term is limited to individuals living in Japan, but that isn’t true because individuals in other countries have been found exhibiting similar symptoms related to social anxiety disorder, depression, or other mental health conditions.

For people struggling with hikikomori, socializing is a challenge, and they feel this pressure as they have experienced academic pressure and bullying and struggle with depression and anxiety disorders.

“The rise in hikikomori has been linked to the decline of traditional family structures and community ties, as well as the pressures of a highly competitive education system. It is also believed that certain personality traits can increase the risk of being affected by the syndrome. This includes shyness or lack of assertiveness.”

Youngsters in Japan face a lot of academic pressure to excel in school and get a good job. This increases anxiety and stress, making them cut themselves out of the social equation, leading to hikikomori. Also, the limited opportunities for career advancement cause burnout, which causes a person to hate going to work for months and years, increasing the prevalence of hikikomori.

Symptoms of Hikikomori

There is no specific mental health disorder that can be directly related to hikikomori. In some cases, the individual might show signs of depression and anxiety because of the pressure they feel. However, they might be okay interacting with people digitally.

Some consider these individuals introverts or shy, but that is not the case because they enjoy interacting with people as they choose to.

Some do not prefer social interaction because they are so addicted to digital devices that they dislike leaving the house and interacting with others. They have gaming addiction, and women have social media addiction, leading them to live a normal social life and interact with others.

Fear of failure, dysfunctional family, and parent’s expectations can also lead to social isolation.

Childhood trauma, maltreatment, and abuse can also be the reason for social withdrawal.

Mental Disorders Linked With Hikikomori: Overview

Talking about the associated conditions with Hikikomori, some conditions include –

• Autism
• Mood changes
• Gaming addiction
• Personality disorders include avoidant personality disorder.
• Social anxiety
• Social isolation

Understanding the stages of Hikikomori

There are three stages that best define Hikikomori. The first one begins after three months of social isolation and is called pre-hikikomori. In this stage, the individual starts experiencing signs of social withdrawal.

In the second stage, the condition worsens, and the individual starts to make excuses to avoid facing emotions and distance oneself from in-person communication and building relationships.

In the last and third stage, called Late-stage hikikomori, the person completely disengages from the physical world and finds peace and comfort in the digital world.

Are Neet and hikikomori the same?

For those unaware of what Neet is, it is a condition in which adolescents are unemployed, uneducated, or trained. The term came into existence in the late 1990s, and it is not the same as hikikomori. However, both conditions cause social anxiety and withdrawal. Neet is a circumstantial issue, and a selected group of people fall into this category. On the contrary, anyone can fall into the category of individuals struggling with hikikomori.

Treatment for Hikikomori

People who show social withdrawal always look for support, so the first thing you can do to help them is show empathy. Understand that what they are going through is hard on them. If they are coming to you for help, support them and listen to what they say. Instead of judging them, be compassionate. Since these people are anxious and hesitant to seek support when you find them cutting off, try to be with them and ask them what is happening.

In addition, encourage them to seek support, seek the help of a psychotherapist, and try to face the conditions that don’t make them anxious. Do not pressure them to be successful.

Hikikomori is not treated through medications to treat it. Psychotherapies are used; however, if any mental illness is co-occurring, then medication is prescribed.

People with hikikomori require family support. Individual or group therapy. In addition to this, addressing the underlying causes responsible for the condition is essential. Also, special attention needs to be paid to individuals struggling with anxiety or depression. This helps deal with the onset of social withdrawal.

Impact of Therapy for People with Hikikomori: Is it helpful?

Therapy can be helpful and effective for people with the condition; however, it really matters how it is administered. There are multiple ways to help an individual through therapy. For instance, they can have individual, group, or family sessions.

If the person is adamant about taking therapy, they may be asked to attend without verbal participation. It is important to seek professional help when concerns are first suspected before the behavior becomes habitual.

All in all, it is crucial to identify, prevent, and treat Hikikomori. It is not something that should be taken lightly, as the early symptoms may appear to be common among users. Therapy and proper measures can help minimize the impact of Hikikomori and eliminate it! I hope this information helps you out. For more, feel free to reach out.