#gifted problems

A lot of kids who were known as the “smart kids” or identified “gifted and talented” were treated like they could and should do everything perfectly, without trying. They grew up without a realistic sense of what fell within their control or responsibility. They ended up feeling guilty for everything that involved them in anyway, and they fell into depression as adults.

Many smart kids bear another burden that only adds to the first. All that extra processing power means not just thinking more but sensing more, feeling more, remembering more. In other words, many smart kids are also extremely intense and sensitive. 

And because gifted kids both are different (they think, talk and behave differently) and are treated differently, they often grow up feeling alone.

Imagine you’re a gifted kid raised with a rigid moral code.

Now imagine that you aren’t just a normal gifted human. You’re a plant. No one knows what you can do for sure, but there’s no clear limit. (And not only do you feel different, you are fundamentally different).

How responsible would you feel for everyone you come into contact with? Anyone you affect in any way? How much would you start to feel anything that goes wrong is your fault?

And how much would you want to downplay your intelligence/other gifts, and the horrific burden of responsibility and loneliness that accompany them?

Isn’t it fortunate that everyone around you seems to think being a good person means being naive and stupid?

I’m a smart kid, don’t get me wrong. I’m taking honors and AP classes, and I could’ve been taking classes at the community college if I hadn’t had a badly placed breakdown.

But I’m about to have a meltdown because there’s a kid in my AP Physics class who’s got a higher grade than I do. I learned how to craft a damn near impeccable lab write-up, and saddled myself with two incredibly smart and focused individuals. But this one guy has a better grade then me and I’ve been sitting here with my AP Physics Mock Test trying not to cry because it doesn’t make sense and I know that he gets it.

I didn’t even sign up for the AP test because I just know that he would get a better grade and then I’d have to scream and meltdown because I don’t know how to handle it. I don’t even know why I care so much! I didn’t even want to take this class! I would’ve dropped it at the beginning of the year but a friend of mine dropped it and my gifted kid brain decided I had to prove it was easy by passing the class.

Me: *realizing this is where so many of my problems stem from*

Self esteem

Ages 3-10. •

Ages 11+. •