My child has emotional problems I need help with him

It sounds like you’re worried about your son and want to understand him better, which is a really important place to start. Being different from his age-mates does not automatically mean something is “wrong” with him, but difficulties with socializing and interacting can sometimes be connected to anxiety, low mood, past experiences, personality, or neurodevelopmental differences.

• Because he is 18, I would approach him gently and with curiosity rather than comparison. You might say, “I’ve noticed social situations seem difficult for you sometimes. How have you been feeling lately, and is there any way I can support you?”
• It can help to understand what thoughts or fears come up for him in social situations and whether avoiding people gives him short-term relief but makes things harder over time.
• It can also help him identify what matters to him—friendship, confidence, independence, belonging—and take small steps toward those things without expecting all the discomfort to disappear first.

A therapist could help explore what is underneath the difficulty and, if needed, recommend a fuller assessment. The goal would not be to make him “like everyone else,” but to understand how he experiences the world and help him build skills and confidence in a way that works for him. Most importantly, let him know that he is loved and that you want to understand him, not change who he is. 🤍