A theory I have

[Brittany]

I think I can relate to what you're saying. For me, people were always calling me crazy. I simply couldn't conform to the societal norm, even as a child. I wound up having really low self esteem, so I built up a shell around myself- this personality I wore like a set of clothing so people would accept me. At the same time I was angry at the world for being so cruel, and I started seeing myself as superior to other people. By high school I was displaying pretty established STS behaviors. It wasn't until I really ended up hurting someone that I did a double take and realized what I'd become. I realized I didn't want people to look at me with fear, and I didn't want to make people miserable. My compassion is just too strong. So I began the slow trip back up the polarity scale

Still, I would think every journey is unique to the point that it would be hard to quantify it in a highly generalized sense.