it sounds like severe depression. I don't know if the DSM-V is online or not. I know the Merck Manual is and I think it has some information but not a lot on psych. I use it all the time for regular medical stuff, have it on my iPad.

to try to diagnose something yourself - please try to get him to a professional.

You could schedule and appointment with a mental health professional who could give you some ideas on how to deal with your brother and give you some ideas about possible dxs.

That's the first step toward figuring out what's going on.

He might not want a diagnosis or any treatment, and there is nothing you can do about that. Understanding what's going on might be the best way you can help him.

You have to start with the basic stuff first.

understand him.

For example is he closing his blinds because he wants to shut out the world and be alone?
Does he think people are outside staring at him?
Or does he think someone is out to get him?
Does seeing the outside world make him nervous?
Are there are magic rays outside that will get in and kill him?

Or are the blinds simply broken and he hasn't got around to fixing them yet?

An experienced mental health professional will have some theories based upon the snippet of information given, but until we get more information we don't know what is going on.

A detailed history and evaluation with a professional will be more beneficial.

There are more than a few symptoms overlap different disorders.

He could have depression or agoraphobia or somewhere on the schizophrenia spectrum. The negative symptoms of schizophrenia can look like depression. Schizophrenia can have negative/and or positive symptoms. The positive symptoms are what most people know about schizophrenia. - hallucinations, delusions. Most people are not familiar with the negative symptoms. Avolition in schizophrenia can be mistaken for depression.

Or could be a personality disorder -

Hopefully you can talk him into seeing someone.


The good thing is, he will not have to leave the house to do it. Most psych providers are doing virtual visits.

I am a hermit myself, and quite happy with my lifestyle.

But many well meaning friends and family try to bring me "out of my shell" because they don't understand how I can be happy being alone all the time.