Hi all
Excuse the essay
I have a younger brother (DB) who is 18. I am 5 years older. He and I are very close and he shares things with me as me and all my siblings have a tricky relationship with our Mum (DM)
He’s seemed quite down for a while, very grumpy and hard to be around, coming home from school early or missing school because he feels sick but when I’ve tried to ask he jus says he’s fine.
A couple of night ago I picked him and his friends up from a night out. When we left his friends off he confided in me that he felt down, he couldn’t sleep, he’s wasn’t enjoying anything, he is struggling with his A levels, he has no self esteem, he thinks no one likes him and when he’s in the street and people are laughing he thinks it’s at him, he can’t get up the confidence to go to the break room at work and to top it all off he is completely heart broken over a girl who he has liked for a long time and had a close friendship with but is now seeing another guy he is good friends with. He completely broke down too me literally sobbing.
I’m heart broken for him. We talked and talked and I have made him a GP appointment. We have talked about steps to start dealing with some of the things he’s struggling with and I’ve given him the life online number should he feel he needs anonymous support. I’ve done everything I can think of. Hi can’t tell my parents and break his trust. I suffer from anxiety and depression myself and am on medication and in the process of being formally diagnosed. Keeping this all inside is so hard.
My question is really is there anything more I can do to support him and can anyone give me advice on how to cope with this myself aenI am onviously very upset but haven’t shown him that.
I’m sorry if this isn’t the right place to post. I know he isn’t technically a child at 18 but he’s a child to me and I played a big part in raising him for various reasons.
All advice appreciated.