This is not a "new" phenomenon in America...there are about an infinity of other issues we as a society (or selective groups within our society whatever the case may be) choose to have the "head in the sand syndrome" in regards to...usually any issue that makes them feel uncomfortable on any level whatsoever. Because Americans (esp Americans) have trouble dealing with reality..hell we have invented an entire LANGUAGE to protect ourselves from it....we call these Euphemisms...George Carlin address this issue in reference to the WW1 combat related condition called "SHELL SHOCK." Simple honest language back then...by WW2...we had BATTLE FATIGUE...4 syllables...doesn't seem to hurt as much. By the Korean war it was called "OPERATIONAL EXHAUSTION." 8 syllables and no humanity left in the phrase...and by the time Vietnam came along we had....you guessed it "POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER." And his insight on that? If we had still been calling it Shell Shock maybe some of those Vietnam veterans would have gotten the attention they needed at the time....
My point being....avoidance disorder...is a disorder in itself....