I think my brother has a very serious mental problem! PLEASE HELP!!!

[un_pui_nebun]

My little brother is 16 years old. I get the feeling that he is depressed for the fact that he never smiles anymore, and for many more reasons. I will make a list of his recent behaviors:

-He sleeps a lot more than he used to, especially during the day (8-10 hours at night and about 4-5 hours durring the day).
-When he goes to bed in the afternoon he gets out of bed and goes back to bed very frequently. He claims that he is doing "something" but he never says what.
-He asks the same questions over and over again every other 10-20 minutes for about an hour.
-Sometimes he makes "weird" statements.
-Now the last concern is that he very often he stops in the middle of the room and thinks.....and thinks....and then continues doing what he started on, but then he stops to think again......when i ask him what he is thinking about he says nothing. Example: a few days ago my parents him and little sister took a trip. It took him 3,5 hours make his luggage for the reason listed above. He stops too often and thinks, and gets busy with something else before returing to what he originaly started.

He also has his good days when he behaves completely normal, but I get the feeling that his situation is only getting worse.

With those symptoms that I have listed above is there any doctor that could give me a diagnosis and some advice that would help him recuperate?

If you have any questions for me that would help you find out what is going on with him, please ask!

[un_pui_nebun]

We thought he started consuming some type of drug at one point in time and we made a screen, and there was no sign of drugs. And as far as the depression in the family, I don't think there is one.

It is a very delicate situation unfortunately.:(

[jdtm]

Has your brother ever been exposed to harmful drugs?  Or, is there a history of depression in the family? I, too, am stumped by some of his behaviours.  Just wondering...

[un_pui_nebun]

First i want to thank you both for answering me so soon. I am 21 years old (4.5 years older than my brother), and yes, i have tried to speek to him many times but he is not always talking back to me, and when he does he says: uuuh....nothing........... My parents and I really believe he is not thinking rationaly anymore due to the odd questions he asks and the weird statements that he makes. He became extremely undecided. He says: yes i want that....nahh nevermind.....but yea...ok.......for 30-45 minutes straight... I wouldn't have contacted you if we weren't extremely concerned about his health. How would you explain the fact that he asks the same question every 10 minutes after he gets a good answer? And that he gets into bed and out of bed every about 10 times in 10 minutes? How would you explain those behaviours?

Yes we have just recently moved to another state, and he doesn't have any close friends. We are from Romania and it has been about 2 years since he hasn't seen our father and our grandparents. He seems very bored many times, but I'm not necessarely trying to find why is this happening but what is happening with him. Is there a name for it? He used to be a funny kid, but now he never smiles anymore, he had a lucid mind, but now he asks many rhetorical questions. He used to love playing on the computer but he doesn't find the desire to be on the PC anymore. Meenwhile we are also trying to look for a specialist who accepts our insurance provider.

I appreciate every sentence that you write back to me!:)

[April2]

I don't think it sounds like a serious mental disorder. I think it sounds like your brother just has a lot on his mind. Not surprising for his age and the end of the school year. I'm sure there's a lot on his mind. And teenagers do tend to sleep a lot if you let them. They say they actually need more sleep than adults do. I wouldn't get in to a panic yet. Why not talk to him and ask him what's on his mind? Try taking him out for coffee or lunch sometime and seeing if he'll open up a little to you about what's going on in his life right now. Who knows? Maybe it will help you both draw closer as siblings. Best wishes.

[margypops]

As he is your little brother what age does that make you, have you had a chat with him asked if he is worried by anything at home, at school, does he have friends, what does he do for hobbies is he into sports , has he a PC in his room, if he is in his room a lot has he a TV in there. Teens sometimes do like to be alone that doesnt mean there is anything wrong, what do your parenst think, as you have come here I am assuming you have spoken to them about your concerns.It is good you care, give us some more to go on.