This rings a few bells with my 16 yo son (15 at my diagnosis). He came to me early on and said that he was sorry if it seemed he wasn't getting emotional or that he didn't care, but he just knew I would be okay. That faltered a bit when it turned out that the first op didn't get everything but while he's been helfpul when needed, other time he reverts to grunts. I do think that the males, through culture or genetics, are mostly into avoidance and self-need. At 16, I can still make the rules to some extent to get help - sometimes it's done willingly, sometimes not so.