I don't know. I think most of us were somewhat socially awkward as teenagers. That's normal. Even popular kids had that hang up. And yes, most of us had issues prior to CEDU, but in an ideal world, CEDU would help its' students, not impede their growth in the real world. But practical help was not on the menu. Besides, many of us would have improved our self confidence with maturity. When I left CEDU, I lost my sense of humor for awhile, took everything way too seriously, and tried to live in "agreement" after I split CEDU. (Which makes no sense.) Of course, no one could live up to CEDU's arbitrary, insular values and I was so wary of people after being emotionally violated that I never learned to put up HEALTHY boundaries. It was either no boundaries or a wall. Nothing in between. I went from being a drop out pre -CEDU to an honor student-volunteer-work out queen- bitch Barbie. And you know what? That was just a good resume. It didn't solve my core issues. And it took me awhile to embrace what was normal.
Lots of people, even CEDU lovers, say they fell apart after the school, and beyond the obvious,that 1)they never got help for their core problems, and 2)they were disabled from operating in teh real world after being in a highly insulated environment. But the other thing had to do with the structure.
For example, I had a sleep disorder and periodic episodes of depression before and after CEDU. I didn't have it at CEDU (and I hated the place) because every minute of my day was so highly structured and either physically (manual labor) or emotionally exhausting, I had no trouble sleeping. I also think the novelty and work and constant challenge of the environment kept you on your toes, in a state of hyper awareness, that fended you from depression. (Well, me anyway.)
But what happens when you leave CEDU and are not worked heavily, physically and emotionally? What do you do when you no longer have an external structure imposed upon you to respond to? You fall back into old patterns. Especially if you didn't learn how to structure yourself. And really, that type of quasi police state structure is not realistic. One monitored phone call every two weeks? Total control of your time and activities moment to moment? Total control of what you could wear, talk about, talk TO, and do? God, even your thought processes was censored if they ever got to light.