For gifted and talented adults, either those with especially high intelligence or a unique and advanced talent, the struggles are often hidden and misunderstood. It's hard for someone who is unfamiliar with the intense drive and focus of gifted individuals to fully understand your direction and your barriers.
Most of your life people have being telling you to slow down, to manage your expectations or to reflect on how far you've come, instead of looking only at the goals to be achieved. What most don't understand is how much you don't fit in with the norm and that your potential follows different rules. How can you ever truly achieve your full potential? How can you maintain your energy and mood in long term pursuits? How can you deal with failure when everyone assumes you will excel?
While many gifted individuals, particularly those with very high IQ, are extremely skilled at their core pursuits, many struggle to make connections or with seemingly more basic functions. The world is too slow and emotional. It is more efficient to make progress towards your plans alone. Many then struggle in careers which require collaboration, or taking direction from others in powerful positions. Particularly if these individuals have not earned their position in your eyes.
It might be difficult for others to understand why someone who is already achieving more than their peers can be frustrated with their progress in life. Or why small changes or decisions can drive you into a tailspin until they are resolved. Your frustrations and intensity may be causing you difficulties with maintaining your work or personal relationships.
Either way, if you feel we can help you, please get in touch.
Growing up Gifted
Gifted children may receive support and encouragement when they are young, but what happens when you grow up? Getting used to excelling in everything you do with little work can cause a crisis at university or early career, where different skills and experiences are required.
Receiving so much adoration as a child, then transitioning to a study or work environment which treats you like everyone else can be challenging to many.
Getting used to being good at things can take its toll. Things come easy to you, and if you succeed you're meeting expectations, but if you perform as most others would you experience this as a failure.
The first time this happens it can crush you. Your own disappointment coupled with the reactions from others could lead to you hiding from challenges and even giving up on these ambitions altogether. Fear of this happening may even stop you from exploring new fields.
Gifted children, despite their many talents and abilities, don't have higher career success than everyone else. This is because many struggle to translate their potential into reality.
Struggles with structure and rules in certain industries, having to work through the ranks of a profession, and lack of recognition leads many to limit their opportunities. Others might be looking at several fields and cannot decide which is the most appropriate for them.
Most gifted individuals struggle with interpersonal relationships; especially with groups of people outside of their comfort zone. Drawn to logical fields such as academia, science or computing; many find comfort in limiting the need to socialise with others.
However, some eventually find they are lonely and misunderstood. Often feeling like you need to 'dilute' how intense you are in conversations. The need to find people who share your interests, speed of thought and interaction to accept you as you are can grow into significant problems if not addressed. You are unique, but not alone.