Hikikomori is a Japanese term used to describe acute social withdrawal.  I first read about the hikikomori a few years ago in a book by Charles Montgomery and was intrigued. 

How could it be that more than seven hundred thousand predominately young adults would feel the need to retreat entirely from society remaining inside their homes? I've since read estimates that one and a half million people are also on the verge of becoming hikikomori. 

Social anxiety cases have been reported from around the world and Canada has seen a big rise in cases as well. There are many reasons why this phenomenon is happening and why residents of suburbia are particularly vulnerable.