Bright, intensely sensitive and idealistic children and adults can envision possibilities but may suffer frustration, perfectionism, disillusionment and existential depression. Supportive relationships that offer understanding and nurturance help prevent isolation and foster their idealism, which is essential for creating a better world.
Gifted children often display behaviors—intensity, sensitivity, perfectionism, underachievement—that can be mistaken for disorders. Lack of clinician training leads to misdiagnosis, especially in twice-exceptional youth. Psychologists need education, and organizations like SENG provide resources, training, and public awareness to reduce misdiagnosis and support families.
This post advises parents of gifted children on counseling: seek preventive guidance, join parent support groups, use relevant books, and consider professional assessment if anxiety, depression, or interpersonal problems persist. Shop for professionals knowledgeable about giftedness, involve parents in therapy, and use medication only when necessary.
This article recounts SENG’s founding after a 1980 tragedy, its early growth through parent support groups, media attention and conferences, funding challenges and donors, program development, and achievements over 25 years, highlighting training, outreach, and initiatives supporting gifted children and families.
Gifted children are often misdiagnosed with disorders like ADHD, ODD, OCD, mood and learning disorders because professionals overlook traits such as intensity, sensitivity, asynchronous development, and situational factors. Accurate assessment should consider giftedness as a contributing or dual diagnosis to guide appropriate treatment.
This article explains how behaviors like inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity can indicate either ADHD or giftedness. It compares diagnostic criteria and overlapping behaviors, offers situational indicators to differentiate them, and recommends thorough professional evaluations, including intelligence and achievement testing, to avoid misidentification.
The article explains existential depression among gifted individuals, who are prone due to intense reflection, idealism, isolation and multi-potentiality. It describes how anger can evolve into depression, highlights risks for youth, and recommends understanding, relationships, touch, bibliotherapy and ongoing support.
