Depressed ASD teenager

Sorry to hear your son is so depressed. Another autistic adult here. Depression is very common in autistic people of all ages, and can be very difficult to escape from without the right guidance.

My first thought was that it sounds like he did get something from connection with his old friends. Does he miss them? Are you still in contact with any of their parents? I wonder if it's possible to get families together for some activity, maybe over a weekend. The thing with depression is that everything seems hopeless, so suggestions requiring self-motivation may not work (and then he may feel unnecessarily guilty) - but once there is actually something interesting or fun happening, it can be cheering. Positive activities may not have any obvious effect on the depression, but usually it takes time.

You don't say much about what your son's thoughts are that might be associated with the depression or anger, but then maybe he has trouble expressing that. It's said that in depression there is a 'negative triad' of thinking about oneself, the world and the future. It's important he can share some of those thoughts with someone, and then he may realise he's 'catastrophising'. This is all common in the Cognitive Behaviour Therapy understanding of depression. There 'bibliotherapy' as well - helping yourself through reading, and maybe the local library can suggest self-help books or other things suitable for you son's age. I've certainly seen books on autism written by and for teens. Has he seen the GP or does he have contact with CAMHS?

And then as Graham says, his interests may be important, as they usually are to anyone autistic. If he can be helped to develop those, it may take his mind of the negatives to do with school, maybe it might help him connect with people of any age with similar interests, and be rewarding in itself.

Hope you both feel better soon.

Sorry to hear your son is so depressed. Another autistic adult here. Depression is very common in autistic people of all ages, and can be very difficult to escape from without the right guidance.

My first thought was that it sounds like he did get something from connection with his old friends. Does he miss them? Are you still in contact with any of their parents? I wonder if it's possible to get families together for some activity, maybe over a weekend. The thing with depression is that everything seems hopeless, so suggestions requiring self-motivation may not work (and then he may feel unnecessarily guilty) - but once there is actually something interesting or fun happening, it can be cheering. Positive activities may not have any obvious effect on the depression, but usually it takes time.

You don't say much about what your son's thoughts are that might be associated with the depression or anger, but then maybe he has trouble expressing that. It's said that in depression there is a 'negative triad' of thinking about oneself, the world and the future. It's important he can share some of those thoughts with someone, and then he may realise he's 'catastrophising'. This is all common in the Cognitive Behaviour Therapy understanding of depression. There 'bibliotherapy' as well - helping yourself through reading, and maybe the local library can suggest self-help books or other things suitable for you son's age. I've certainly seen books on autism written by and for teens. Has he seen the GP or does he have contact with CAMHS?

And then as Graham says, his interests may be important, as they usually are to anyone autistic. If he can be helped to develop those, it may take his mind of the negatives to do with school, maybe it might help him connect with people of any age with similar interests, and be rewarding in itself.

Hope you both feel better soon.