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HELP!! 21 YEAR OLD WITH ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION

13 replies

Crazypeoplelivehere · 25/06/2025 18:28

Hi all, new on here but I need some constructive advise as this is a long time coming...
My 21yo almost 22 has basically lived indoors since he was 17.
He left college well withdrawn at 17 just before covid. He was regressing anyway and this just made it worse. He stayed in, his anxiety and depression got worse. I've tried everything, mentors, outside help. Problem is he is also lazy but now completely self loaths.
We lost a huge member of the family when he was 12, my mum passed. I also had a toddler with my partner, not his dad. I was trying to cope with life and adjust to life wjth my partner and my toddler and 12 yo. We just all moved in when luke was born. His dad he saw growing up made my life a living misery, and Liam knew that. He became estranged when Liam was about 15. I don't think he coped well through puberty. Now he just sits in his room...we've had so many talks about changing but he games sleeps and eats what we make. He doesn't have a good relationship with my partner and my partner Is old school and I know wants him out. Our youngest son just wants a relationship with him but they've hardly ever done anything together. He doesn't have any face to face friends. He games. He's been out for a few dog walks, talked to a few people but nothing has ever come from it.
No job. No money. Just a misery in the house thats bringing everyone down. He's lazy and just doesn't get it. I am honestly at my witts end. I'm 49 work 2 jobs, exhausted. My partner is I dunno not supportive. It's just me. I can't turn my back like everyone else but I just don't even feel like coming home sometimes as I just know he's going to be in bed, gaming or miserable. He's talked of change recently, diet etc. But nothing ever happens. I think he needs to move out and get some independence. It's not normal to live like this. I want him to start living. He just refuses to see a doctor, dentist:(
Anyway been in this situ.? Any advice. Support networks etc?? Desperate.

OP posts:
Glamgenzmami · 26/06/2025 04:23

“He doesn't have a good relationship with my partner and my partner Is old school and I know wants him out“

Poor kid. Your partner sounds like a vile individual.

vodkaredbullgirl · 26/06/2025 05:11

How long and your partner been together?

abracadabra1980 · 26/06/2025 05:24

Glamgenzmami · 26/06/2025 04:23

“He doesn't have a good relationship with my partner and my partner Is old school and I know wants him out“

Poor kid. Your partner sounds like a vile individual.

This. I think you need to take some responsibility for his emotional state. Gaming - pretty normal for that age group, but it’s deeper than that, OP. You have rushed into major a ‘new family’ - what kid is going to relish that, really? Your partner is yet another emotionally unintelligent man. Your son needs you way more than your partner does. There’s no way I’d have a partner in my life if my child was so unhappy. I was brought up by very emotionally stable parents who always instilled CHILDREN come FIRST.

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Lavendersong · 26/06/2025 06:18

Glamgenzmami · 26/06/2025 04:23

“He doesn't have a good relationship with my partner and my partner Is old school and I know wants him out“

Poor kid. Your partner sounds like a vile individual.

This

Your DS is just keeping out the way which in turn is affecting his MH

It sounds like a depressing household probably because of your DP

Crazypeoplelivehere · 26/06/2025 16:20

17 years

OP posts:
Crazypeoplelivehere · 26/06/2025 16:24

I feel I may have unnecessarily made you all feel my partner is a monster...he isn't he just doesn't have the empathy required to deal with Liam. There is a lot that cannot be conveyed via message and its wrong for anyone to think he's vile. He is a great dad to our youngest and he puts a roof over our heads. He just isn't supportive with Liam on a personal level and yes I expect he feels the house would be less atmospheric, however he doesn't say anything because of me. It's a difficult situation that isn't clear cut.

Anyway I came for some advice and that's what I got albeit not quite what i was after.

OP posts:
waltzingparrot · 26/06/2025 16:26

Could you get him interested in going to the gym? It does seem to help with boosting their mood, chance to chat to people, get a routine, feel better about themselves. Lots of good things can come from a gym membership.

Zebralie · 26/06/2025 16:29

Sounds like your partner is much more interested in and supportive of your younger son?

Zebralie · 26/06/2025 16:30

I feel very sorry for your older son.

Crazypeoplelivehere · 26/06/2025 16:33

He really wants to go to the gym but with Social Anxiety this is probably the worst place - he's asked me for a folding treadmill for his birthday so fingers crossed...

OP posts:
Crazypeoplelivehere · 26/06/2025 16:35

Lavendersong · 26/06/2025 06:18

This

Your DS is just keeping out the way which in turn is affecting his MH

It sounds like a depressing household probably because of your DP

I feel this but I have asked him if he would be happier living somewhere else - I know he wants change but after so long it's hard to break the mold. My partner also works from home so the both of them are at home 24/7 .. it's a little suffocating for me..

OP posts:
Crazypeoplelivehere · 26/06/2025 16:39

abracadabra1980 · 26/06/2025 05:24

This. I think you need to take some responsibility for his emotional state. Gaming - pretty normal for that age group, but it’s deeper than that, OP. You have rushed into major a ‘new family’ - what kid is going to relish that, really? Your partner is yet another emotionally unintelligent man. Your son needs you way more than your partner does. There’s no way I’d have a partner in my life if my child was so unhappy. I was brought up by very emotionally stable parents who always instilled CHILDREN come FIRST.

It's a difficult situation - he's not vile! just doesn't know how to relay or converse with him. his mum and dad are actually still together at 80 years of age - my mum and dad divorced when I was 2 I don't know my dad and my mum passed 10 years ago so he had a much more stable upbringing that I did. our youngest is also a very happy 11 year old, who is a prefect and never in trouble. I think just because he can't get on the same playing field as Liam it doesn't make him a vile person - he just can't handle it.

I was kind of hoping people might give me some advice on Liam and if there were any pathways or routes/things available.. or if anyone else had been in this situation but actually I just feel worse reading these.

OP posts:
qwertyqwertymnbv · 26/06/2025 17:25

No judgment from me. I've also had a DS who was like this for a few years and I know how incredibly difficult it is to get them to change.

It's not realistic to expect him to move out and be independent at the moment, so you'll just have to take baby-steps with him. The main thing I think is to shower him with love and your attention. You need to (gradually) make him feel that he's an OK person, that he has skills, that you enjoy his company etc. So that means really, really bigging up any little positive thing he does and not pointing out his failures (because he will be aware of those himself anyway.)

I started by having a rule that DS could not stay in his room all day - he had to eat at the table with us for dinner as a bare minimum. We would make sure we had happy, interesting conversations and I would ask DS for his views and involve him in any decision-making when the meal was happening. The next step was getting DS to be responsible for making one evening meal for us every week. I had to make this easy for him by having a selection of very easily-prepared things in the fridge that he could choose from. I would make a big fuss about how delicious the food was and how much I appreciated him being helpful (even though the food was often hideous!) The next step was getting him to go to the supermarket to buy the food he wanted to cook, once a week. Later, I gave him a budget and asked him to choose enough food for 2 or 3 evening meals a week. All of this was to build up his self-confidence.

I would suggest that you schedule some time to go out with your son, just you and him. Is there somewhere he used to like to go or an activity he enjoyed? Get your DH to look after your other son, and just spend time regularly, one-on-one with your older son. Don't make any negative comments about him or anything which might stress him - just focus on enjoying each others' company. Can you go on a short holiday together or even a day trip out, so he gets a change of scene? He needs to sub-consciously realise that there is a whole exciting world out there, outside his bedroom.

When DS was feeling a bit better, I then told him he had to choose an activity which was out of the home to do once a week. Look online for groups, sports, meetups: anything that might catch his fancy. If he's a gamer, would he like board games - there are several board games groups in cafes/pubs these days? DS decided he wanted to learn a sport and I went along and learnt it with him (even though I wasn't interested at all!!)

His behaviour sounds like depression. Even though you say he won't go to a doctor, you could phone his GP and express your concern. Our GP phoned my son and did an online consultation. He's now been on anti-depressants for years and they make a difference to his mood.

Hope some of this might be of help.

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