depression?

[pee2]

hey all,

I have a friend who is showing some weird signs or 'symptoms' im not exactly sure if they are depression related but i just need some clarification if possible.

He tends to be angry with me alot of the time even though we are best mates and like a brother to me. I dont ignor him but he seems to think i am and i ahve a lot of close mates who he has now met and also became close with but he seems to get annoyed when i meet up with them and says to me he doesnt like them but then speaks to them all day the next day and doesnt talk to me, im not upset about this but it seems strange.

he doesnt like having conversations with large groups of people and tends to sit next to someone and have a litlle chat whilst we are all talking away. after these times and that person he talks to leaves its like he doesnt speak to me. Its like he is jelous that im more talkative than himself as he talks to others like normal but not me.

i have heard from others that hje lies a fair bit and creates a number of stories which arn't entirley true...im assuming he just want attention from everyone.

his moods jump quite rapidly after situations like i stated earlier, im not sure if its might be bi-polar or depression. and once he threatened to kill himself as we were having an argument, its like he is in his own world.

any help would be appreciated.

thanks

[Peanutbct]

He needs to see a doctor asap!! Anytime someone theatens sucide you take it seriously!!  Even if you think they don't mean it and just saying that to get attention, you still should TAKE IT SERIOUSLY!!!  You never know what they are truly attending to do.  He can seriously mean what he says and hopes by saying it out loud someone will help him.  He needs help.  He maybe depressed, bipolar or have social anxiety... or who knows what else, a doctor can properly diagnoise him.  See if you can maybe get a one on one time with him alone, just the two of you and see if you can convince him to possibly go see a doctor.  if not then just keep any eye on him and help him the best you know how.  you can't make him get help.  it has to be his choice.  

[Rainbow_Ike]

Greetings from New York, Pee2.

I agree with mammo - you're a good mate to stick by a friend who's acting so strange. I notices that you list yourself as 21, a time of life when most young guys are interested in OTHER things than helping a friend. Excuse the joke when I mention the Aussie male reputation for.. well let's say drinking from very LARGE cans. (G)  As an American male, it was ONE of my interests at 21! One of them! (G) So for me, this makes you a special friend.

As a social worker (in the US, we have to have a post-University Masters degree to call ourselves a Social Worker or get a licence) I was trained to diagnose mental illnesses.

It would be difficult to diagnose your mate without an actual interview (and you should try to get him to a psychiatrist for that) but one thing made a red alarm light blink and an alarm go off - his age. Late adolescence through early adult is prime time for schizophrenia.

The other explanation CAN have to do with those large cans of Fosters, but his avoiding large groups tends to make that unlikely. However, some alcoholics do become morose and isolate themselves when drunk or having a hangover.

Have you talked about this change of his behavior with your other mutual friends? If they have also observed it and are also concerned, then perhaps you can. as a group, use your friendships to pressure him to go to a doctor, like a family doing an Intervention with a drug addict.

If you are all still at University, then there is probably a school medical center. Go there and ask their advise.

Keep us the good work, buddy. (That's Yankee for "mate")  

[mammo]

It's difficult to say what is going on with your friend but he does appear to be a little too possessive of you and your time.  Maybe you could suggest to him that he speak to someone about all this, he does have some insecurities.  You should be able to have other friends without him getting upset by it.  You're a good friend to care enough to check this out on his behalf.  Try talking with him about all this and go from there, hopefully he will seek help with it.  Good luck and take care!