Concerned about my brother...
 

I know he's going through depression, and basically he's a loser. He has a couple friends, but he never initiates anything, and he's not that funny. He's also been watching Fight Club 24/7, and whenever I go into his room it's either the movie's on or the movie DVD menu is on and he's asleep. I don't like bringing him to hang out with me because I'm a senior and he's a sophomore, and I'm graduating.... Oh yah, and some Morman girl continuously breaks his heart after all the advice I give him to tell her to fuck off.....

difficult ... i know someone who sounds similar though.

i think my advice is not to get too stressed with him, cos it doesn't do either of you any good. For example, it might be better to spend less time with him if it means you can keep calmer during that time.

Sounds like he needs something to do. I've gone through times when all I did was sleep and watch TV. It's depressing all by itself. It will just make him worse. Have his parents noticed or said anything to him? Couldn't they just unplug his TV and put a boot in his butt to DO something? Or does he like to ride bicycle or anything like that? His parents and you could go in together and get him a new bicycle or whatever it is that he at least used to enjoy in hopes he'll get out and do something. Exercise helps ease depression. Having a hobby or something you can "accomplish" gives a sense of achievement and succees also helping depression. It would most definately help him be a more likeable person.

Otherwise, if his depression is too debilitating then he really should see some counseling. Perhaps he's got something that's holding him back.

One of my brother's buddies in highschool really kept to himself and didn't like to get out of bed even. Then they discovered he was Manic Depressive. He got medication, got out and started doing stuff, and now has a very good job, apt, and cool stuff. He's off the meds now but has learned how to better cope with the moods.

Don't get discouraged or give up on him though as the road back from depression can be long.

He needs encouragement to do stuff on his own, if you say he's a loser and has no friends.

Your parents should help him out, and so should you. Sure you don't have to have him tag along with you everywhere ( I could understand since I'm a senior and my sister is a sophomore), but just going in thirty minutes a day and asking him what's up might help. Sometime, you should go in and turn off Fight Club. That movie is violent and depressing.

Also, encourage him to talk to a doctor. I don't think ANYONE likes being depressed, and he may be able to get some help.

I don't know the particulars, but my first reaction was that your brother is in a bad spot, and he needs to go see a good psychiatrist pronto. It's one thing to be a bit introverted. I'm a bit introverted, but it's unhealthy to withdraw from the world like that.

I don't want to focus on this point, but I've seen fight club, and if that's the message you want to hear over and over again, you have problems.

Also, have you ever thought -this may sound silly- that your brother is schitzophrenic? Maybe that's why he watches Fight Club over and over....

No, he's not schizo.

I've tried exercising with him, and it works out, but I'm running with my friend now. He's also fat.

And he plays computer games as his hobby.

And he sees a counselor ever so often, but those people are fuckshits in my experiences.

I went through this in 7th or 8th grade. I didnt talk to anyone, I was depressed, and watched Fight Club alot. I still love the movie and can quote the whole thing, but I'm somewhat happy and social. I kinda hit the bottom (I was stealin booze from my parents and getting drunk every weekend at 13 years old, I would use my thumb nail and scratch my wrist until it bled. I still have scars) I was alot like your brother, except I dont like video games so I started lifting weights hard core by myself to pass time. I got over it, and I think its just a stage that some people go through in adolescense. I think he'll come too.

I don't think my parents getting involved helped though. I think you as a brother take a look at the situation a little bit from the inside, cause you probably have some access your parents or anyone else doesn't have, and just make sure there's no permanent damage going on. I was just depressed back then, too, but I wasn't looking to seriously hurt myself, just going through a bad spot. And I always took it as offensive that people would jump to those kinds of dramatic conclusions that I was going to do something serious....I'd just check in and realize depression in teens is kinda normal, and judge if he's just being dramatic or there's serious stuff going on.

Depression in teens might be "normal," or "just a phase," but they make medicine that you can take that makes a difference. If he's really not enjoying life, that might be worth checking out.

There are "fuckshit" counselors out there, but there are plenty that aren't. Its all about finding someone you feel comfortable with, same goes for psychiatrists.

wow my brother is sort of like that. He's not funny or interesting to be around and all he does is sit at the computer ALL day, i don't think he ever had a girlfriend and he's 22..

I know a guy like that who's _42._ He surfs the Internet now, but before that it was all porn and comics. He had one job in his entire life -- it was very simple-minded and required no initative or little human contact. When the company closed he retreated to his rent-free house (owned by Mom) and stayed there with his porn and guns and comics and DSL connection and didn't try to find another one. His money ran out some time back, his credit cards are about maxed out, never goes out except to shop, bathes every two weeks, never cleans, never maintained the house up like he promised so Mom is about to kick him out, won't take any suggestions, barely knows how to hold a real conversation anymore. Never had a girl, ever.

Is he depressed? Probably. At any rate, he's in a rut he's unwilling or unable to get out of. Xsas, this is the extreme dark side of what can happen if a guy never gets his act together. Do whatever you can to make sure your brother doesn't go here. Yes, 90 percent of counselors are crap, but 90 percent of everything is crap. He should keep trying with counselors until he finds a good one.

what can i do though? I asked him if he wanted to go play pool with me and my friends one time and he basically didnt say anything the entire time except for a few stupid comments and i don't think he knows how to talk to people properly because he constantly bad mouths the people he's with even though he says he's joking and basically none of my friends like him and he doesnt have any of his own except for the people he talks to on the internet i guess..no clue what i can do with him..

oh nevermind, your comment was to xsas