Enter The Matrix
If Neo from The Matrix had Social Anxiety Disorder, a very interesting scene would not have ever happened.
The Matrix stands to be one of the most intriguing, philosophical, action-packed movies of all time. It has stood the test of time and continues to make waves with the new Matrix: Resurrection’s film. Neo, played by Keanu Reeves, is a combination of a superhero and prophet all in one (the prophet part becomes more obvious with in Matrix Revolutions). Joined by Laurence Fishburne’s Morpheus, and Carrie-Ann Moss’s Trinity, the trio enter and exit the “real world” and matrix world to stop the machines from taking over. Along the way, we see incredible, cinema defining action sequences and stories that we’ve never seen prior to its release in 1999.
Unplug from SAD
If you’re unplugged from the matrix (or society) and want to know about Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), click here for more details.
The Social Anxiety Scene from The Matrix
The Matrix (1999)
Scene: Trinity finds and introduces herself to Neo at the nightclub
Anxiety Provoking Event: Large social gathering while being approached by an attractive woman
If Neo had Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), he would never have “followed the white rabbit” and gone to the nightclub. He never would have met Trinity there, therefore we never would have witnessed this scene.
background
Although it’s not the most critical scene in the movie, the nightclub scene sets the stage for what’s about to happen. Trinity approaches and introduces herself to a lonely and lost looking Neo. He learns that she is the one who sent him messages to his computer earlier in the movie, indicating that he belongs to the matrix and instructing him to “follow the white rabbit” (which he figured out is her way of saying go to the nightclub). If I’m going to be honest, I’m still not sure why Trinity didn’t just directly tell him to go to the nightclub. It would have been easier for him to understand, as opposed to throwing him off with the whole white rabbit nonsense. Anyway, the point is that she got her wish and Neo made his way to the nightclub.
Important conversation
Trinity, being very careful with her words, tells Neo that she brought him there to warn him of the fact that he is being watched. Although she wouldn’t clarify who exactly is watching him, she emphasized on a key point that set the stage for the entirety of the movie. The question, “what is the matrix?” sets the becomes the theme of Neo’s story.
She concludes this initial meeting with Neo by telling him that the answer to his question is out there, and it will find him if he lets it. A little later in the movie we see that he does indeed let the answer find him when he took the red pill.
If Neo had Social Anxiety Disorder
If Neo had Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), he would not have gone to the nightclub at all. The feeling of being around so many people, especially unfamiliar people, would have caused too many feelings of anxiety. The anticipation of possibly developing red face symptoms (blushing and sweating) would lead to the actual development of symptoms. He would be sweating profusely and turning bright red, blushing throughout the night.
Then if an attractive woman were to approach him, like Trinity did, Neo would have sweat heavier and blushed redder. And to make matters worse, he would have started to develop trembling hands, a rapid heart rate, and muscle stiffness. Neo would have been very uncomfortable in front of her. Therefore, he would have spared himself the humiliation in front of Trinity and would not have even gone to the nightclub.
That means, Trinity would have had to introduce herself to him at another time and place, being careful not to meet at an anxiety-provoking location like a nightclub.