Anyone help with this?

[EddieIzzardIsMine]

I've posted in Chat too but posting here too asking for help desperately and hoping someone might know - my brother is 15 and has always been 'odd', has never had any real friends for long periods of time, finds maintaining a conversation difficult unless its about whatever he wants to talk about/is currently obsessed with.

He's homeschooled as he was very badly bullied at senior school and although he goes to courses, college taster days etc he never really seems to 'connect' with anyone.

He's never had a girlfriend or any real interest in girls afaik, he plays computer games constantly and doesnt really help my mum around the house at all, even when asked, still very childish in some respects but much older in others, enjoys gardening and has very fixed political views for example.

He also frequently flies into rages and gets very upset (mainly about having no friends or our father having no contact for over 10 years)

He also 'snaps' out of these sometimes, for example him and my mother were arguing and he stormed out of the room, minutes later he poked his head round the door and said 'peepo' and was laughing as though everything was fine again.

My mum is completely on her own with this, our father hasnt had any support contact in over 10 years and has severe depression so understandably is at her wits end - what could this 'be'? How to help/go forward from here? Theres loads more I could add but I've tried to be concise although I know its a bit jumbled

Certainly could be something like ASD.

Has he ever been seen by a child development paedetrician?

It's not at all unusual for ASD not to be diagnosed.

No, he's never been seen by anyone...how would we go about getting him seen?

Ask your GP to refer you.

I'd list all the problems he has, then tell the GP you think he might have Aspergers or something like that and could she refer him to a child development paed.

(Not saying he does have it, just that GPs can't diagnose, he really needs to be seen by a paed, so you need to convince the GP to refer him)

In some areas CAMHs deal with Aspergers not paeds.....

Also a lot of people think a 'label' doesn't help, so are very reluctant to diagnose ASD even if they do think he has it.

As he's not at school take him to his gp. First take a look at the national autistic society website for advice and if you think he does have autistic traits them write down what you think and take it with the doctor. Make sure you write it all down. I don't really know what else to say, hopefully someone who has been in this situation could help. Good luck.

Thank you - its hard to 'admit' it really isnt it? I feel so upset he might find life harder than it already is but thats more of a reason to get him whatever help we can isnt it?

Yes hun I would deffo look into aspergers, as your brother is nearly an adult I would def recommend that he is involed and ask him if he feels there is something more then 'normal teen behavior' (hate the word normal sorry).
If he feels that he would benefit from having assessments to see if there is some underlying issues I would go to your GP who should contact and reffer to the appropriate services.

A diagnosis may not bring much help with it - but what it will bring you is the ability to research it yourself and find out what may or may not help him.

If you are in London look at Autism London, they have a lot of support for adults with aspergers. HTH