My friend doesn´t want to see anyone ...

Hello, I´m actually on PC for myself, but this thread is about my friend.

He´s been shutting himself off over the past few months.

We used to meet regularly in a group of friends, like once a week or so
but more and more he kept canceling or saying he didn´t have time.

He´s told me at some time that he is depressed at and has trouble sleeping and other issues with his Mom and job/college situation, but he made it sound like it was no big deal.

It has come to the point where he really doesn´t seem to see anyone at all anymore and doesn´t even pick up the phone.
He´s isolating himself, I feel and I wonder.... can this be because
of his depression that he doesn´t want to see anyone and wants to be alone?
(he even preferred to be alone on his B-day, as opposed to being with friends or family)

I myself have trouble with depressive phases though depression is not my diagnosis (but anxiety/PTSD).

So I wanted to ask you guys. It seems strange to me, because whenever I feel depressed, it helps me a lot to see and meet with friends.
On the contrary, when I do not have a social outlet for a longer time, THAT makes me depressed.

But I wanted to ask what you think...

When I am really depressed I dont want to talk or see anybody.

I can relate to what your friend is going through. I have a tendency to isolate myself when my mood is not spectacular. I feel like it is easier to be alone when I feel down, then to put on a happy face and muddle through a conversation with an extrovert. Maybe ask him he wants to just talk one on one. I am more comfortable with being with one person when I am not in a perfect mood, then with a group of people.

I think a lot of people deal differently with depression. I guess some people are more extroverted in showing it and others are more introverted and want to deal with it on their own.

Maybe you could just ask him straight away if he needs your help or something.