In modern society, the term “gifted” is associated with intellectual prowess. There are various ways that an individual may express their mental faculties. Cognitively, neurologically and phenomenologically speaking, giftedness is a kind of mind construction pattern that results in an above-average complexity of thought. This article will take a closer look at the concept of giftedness and how intense curiosity and intellectual excitability often go hand in hand with neuro-atypicality, non-conformism, and emotional sensitivity.
Someone who is intellectually gifted has an above-average baseline of intellectual intelligence. There are different levels of giftedness, ranging from mild to profound, influencing the expression of giftedness in a particular individual. Some people have twice or multi-exceptionalities, such as learning disabilities, autism, or other neurodivergences that add certain challenges to the expression of their high intellectual ability. Although not synonymous with giftedness, as is often believed, overexcitabilities add additional flavors of expression.
Gifted people’s minds range from being slightly to extremely complex: intellectually, emotionally, creatively, physically, sensually, existentially, or a combination of these factors. Their cognitive complexity can be both exhilarating and challenging at times, both for themselves and those around them.
Other factors such as social context and trauma history also affect a gifted individual’s development and expression. In short, giftedness is not a one-size-fits-all concept. Although all gifted individuals share higher-than-average baseline complex cognition, gifted people are a very heterogenous group.
In addition to being fast learners and perfectionists, gifted individuals are often emotionally intense and highly sensitive people who excite easily and are prone to feeling out of place in the world. Their creative inspirations can keep them up at night. In addition, they may find themselves “absorbing” other people’s energies and feelings to the point where social settings and crowds can feel somewhat overwhelming.
Gifted people typically set extremely high standards for themselves, with their strong autonomous drive often fueling a need to work independently. A gifted individual may experience above average feelings of frustration when witnessing injustice in the world, leaving them struggling to comprehend and tolerate the ignorance and apathy of others. They may also downplay their abilities and achievements to appear “normal” and avoid standing out from the crowd.
From a young age, giftedness can lead to invisible woundings. An individual who has been labelled as gifted may lack access to the right support to help them find their way in life. A perennial struggle for gifted people is finding others who can meet their intellectual speed, spiritual intuition, and emotional intensity. Even as children, gifted people are often “old souls” who ask complex and profound questions that the adults around them are incapable of answering. Extraordinarily intelligent children are often concerned with existential topics, such as death and the meaning of life, subjects that many adults feel ill-equipped to tackle. Gifted people also tend to care more deeply about environmental and social issues but find themselves with a lack of like-minded individuals with whom to share their concerns. If they do share their thoughts, they may find others disagreeing with them, looking at them with puzzlement or dismissing their ideas as naive.
Gifted trauma does not simply disappear as the individual becomes an adult. Left unhealed and unprocessed, it can manifest itself in an array of behavioral issues and self-sabotaging actions, leading to underachievement, depression, aloneness in the world, procrastination, creative blocks, imposter syndrome, empathetic overwhelm or a crisis in conformity.
Eggshell Therapy specializes in supporting neurodivergent adults, helping gifted people to embrace their intellectual excitability, intense curiosity, emotional sensitivity, and neuro-atypical status as blessings, teaching them how to harness these strengths, live well, and fulfil their true potential.