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Depression and possible Autism/Aspergers

Bigbro

Hello, I'm new here but I've been researching and learning from this site and community for quite some time now and have come to the conclusion that my brother could be somewhere on the spectrum.

He's 31 and has always been a fairly lonely guy and never had many friends. Since reading these forums I have noticed he has a number of traits. Now, I could be completely wrong about this but it might be something worth exploring.

The problem is that he is currently suffering with quite severe depression. This all came to a head a few years ago when he came out and told us he's gay. I'm also gay and came out when I was about 18 but my mother didn't react well to the news so he's kept it to himself for about 10 years. I can't imagine what that's done to him and I feel so sorry for him.

He's being treated for the depression and has counselling but my question to you guys is whether the depression should be dealt with before bringing up the possibility of him being on the spectrum. On one hand, if he is on the spectrum, it may help him to understand how he's feeling. On the other, it could confuse things and make things worse.

I'd really appreciate any thoughts, ideas and suggestions on this and if you have any questions, please do ask.

Thanks for reading.

Parents

  • We must be careful about insinuating that people on the spectrum invariably lack self-awareness and do not know their own sexuality - this conclusion would be very patronising.

    I have Aspergers, and I do struggle with identity and interpretation of self, but I know that I am gay - I have fancied other women, not in a sexual sense, but in the classical Greek sense; beautiful bodies combined with a sharp intellect.

    I would not be surprised if  many people on the spectrum are asexual or experience gender confusion, but gayness is something you are born with; you do know one way or the other fairly soon.

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  • We must be careful about insinuating that people on the spectrum invariably lack self-awareness and do not know their own sexuality - this conclusion would be very patronising.

    I have Aspergers, and I do struggle with identity and interpretation of self, but I know that I am gay - I have fancied other women, not in a sexual sense, but in the classical Greek sense; beautiful bodies combined with a sharp intellect.

    I would not be surprised if  many people on the spectrum are asexual or experience gender confusion, but gayness is something you are born with; you do know one way or the other fairly soon.

Children
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