Hi donaquixote,

You make a very good point about the difference between wanting to seek help for yourself, as opposed to someone else suggesting it. I doubt anyone really wants to hear that they are not normal and in need of help. I know I wouldn't! That is why it is so hard to say anything to him. It's not like he ever even complains about his life to me or anything. The only thing I have said to him in the past was about his OCD-like behavior. But he just laughed. My sister and I used to tease him when we were younger about how he should move out (over 20 years ago). But that was typical teenage sibling teasing. Now it is way beyond that. I suppose he must know deep down that things are not right with him. But instead of even wanting to vent any of it, he suppresses things. I think he is in denial about a lot of things.

And yes, he has always been a very hard worker, when he does work that is, lol. In fact, the company that he used to work for had asked him several times to come back to them, even at a substantial increase in salary. My parents and sister all tried to convince him to accept it, but he will not even consider it. I wish I had that problem! The reason he quit was because there was a change in management that he did not like, and so that was that. Like I said, he hates change. He made a decent living, but also since he didn't do things like date or travel etc., he had a lot left over to save, I guess. So he has been able to live off of his savings for the past few years since his only real expense is whatever money he contributes as rent to our parents and his car insurance. I think he must be getting fairly low on funds now or maybe has decided not to go through his entire savings before getting another job. But I imagine it is hard for him and the longer he waits, the harder it becomes.

The signs he started showing in his early 20's were mainly just the OCD (well at least that is what is seems like, since he never has been formally diagnosed). At that time he did have friends and a fairly active social life. But I think as they all started to marry and start families, he started to distance himself from them. I remember my mother telling me how his friends would keep calling him to get together or to go to their children's Baptism's etc. but my brother would find excuses not to go. After doing this for so long, of course they finally stopped trying. Then things just went downhill from there with him becoming more and more of a hermit.

So at this point, if he just gets himself a job that would be an improvement, getting him out of the house and contact with other people beside our parents. Hopefully it will be soon. Thanks for the interest, it helps me to vent this out.