Just speculation, but perhaps what triggered relief was understanding that their son was not alone (and thus not "weird") in his behaviour. Giving a name to it

Just speculation, but perhaps what triggered relief was understanding that their son was not alone (and thus not "weird") in his behaviour. Giving a name to it makes it sound like a real medical condition and thus something that is affecting the kid, rather than the kid being broken. IMO the name makes it seem _too much_ like a proper disorder, since the kids' actions are somewhat reasonable. If I could've gotten shot at school or had to deal with as much BS as they did, I might have not gone either. I skipped a large amount of my last year regardless since I had turned 18 and could excuse myself. Not anxiousness -- kids just don't like school.