Extremely gifted and talented people.....?

Question

Why are they also some of the most deeply pained and problemed?And is it true that many turn to drugs?I'm yalking about the ones who seem to have an"it"factor others don't.

Answer 1

Think about what it means to have a truly great gift. It means being sighted in the land of the blind.

How would your life be if nobody around you could see anything? The first reaction you're likely to get from people would an accusation of madness. What you can describe and do is completely outside of the realm of their experience. Even if they believe you, there will be those who argue that the world is better without your so-called sight and perhaps without you as well. New ideas have always been treated thus.

Those who do appreciate your gifts still aren't likely to be able to sympathize with you to any great degree. More likely they will want to use you like a machine or worship you like a god. And neither machine nor god bears too much resemblance to the human that you are.

In any case you will always be an outsider. An alien. Different. Alone in a way few people are ever alone.

Given all these things, what I find remarkable is that there are ANY well-adjusted individuals with great gifts, not that there are few of them!

Answer 2

I have steadily read studies about the gifted and talented partly as a way to understand human nature and personality theories in psychology. Some gifted young do not realize they are "gifted" but somehow feel "different" from their peers, thus leading to alienation from peers and seeking older mentors as friends. It's really their minds playing against them. In a mature and free state, one realizes that the walls built up are self-made, really. The asynchronous development of mind/intellect versus physical and emotional maturation lead some to feel despair and loneliness. The highly gifted are able to utilize their intellect to productive ends such as solving problems and working out artistic, original projects. Their activities fuel their drive and motivation for living and they are able to stay afloat and positive and find great companions. Their gifts provide a "flow" or energy source to refuel amassing knowledge or honing their talents.

It is really a myth that the gifted flail and spiral into depression. Anyone without emotional support would become despondent if they and their talent are to face the world alone without loved ones' support. Artistically gifted people are especially at risk for depression. Research indicates that gifted women and girls experience more asymmetrical development than men and boys. Girls feel conflict within due to their desire to be socially liked and their dominance (intellect). They usually hide the brain power and It isn't until adulthood some women discover themselves and embrace their giftedness as a way to finally come to terms with their low self-esteem.

Men and women in mathematics and science
(and related logical fields) are less prone to emotional turmoil, as their activities do not encourage divergent thoughts and interests as much as the artistically gifted. My observation is that internal pain begins with the false mindset of being on a higher pedestal than others and expecting too much of themselves. One characteristic trait of the gifted, among many traits, is perfectionism. Perfectionism inevitably leads to self-criticism, a destructive path. Gifted or not, people take drugs when they do not have good coping skills. The gifted could possibly be vulnerable if they are young and not emotionally stable at a particular time of their development. However, I do not believe this is a common problem faced by the gifted unless as mentioned earlier, the social support is lacking or extreme social pressure to conform have somehow side-tracked them.

Usually, the gifted understand the consequences of their actions well, thus preventing them from harmful activities (provided they are in a stable environment).

I love this subject. Thanks for asking.

Answer 3

Because those who are gifted.. aren't walking on the same level as others, and are usually very.. socially inept, and its A VERY lonely life, and so to cope with such things, they usually turn to something that will allow them a more social escape, and.. think drugs make you very.. free.. and uninhibited..

We simply feel things differently than most is all..

We are unlike you.. and its felt..

Answer 4

When you have a very vivid imagination, sometimes it can interfere with your daily life, causing you to imagine things or circumstances that aren't necessarily actually there. You take a small problem and escalate it into a huge one in your head and you can't tell the difference.

Answer 5

Not true... lots of geniuses like Bill Gates (President of Microsoft) and Bobby Fisher (the US former Chess-champion with the highest IQ in the world) are people with alot of money and are very happy with their lives.

Answer 6

Because they think for themselves... sometimes to the point of overthinking things. Which can be paralyzing!

"If you don't believe drugs have done good things for us, then go home and burn all your records, all your tapes, and all your CDs because every one of those artists who have made brilliant music and enhanced your lives? RrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrEAL f&^%ing high on drugs. The Beatles were so ******* high, they let Ringo sing a few songs." --Bill Hicks

Answer 7

Cause no ones perfect so it comes out in other ways.

Answer 8

It is because they all think very deeply and are philosophical about life and death.

Answer 9

Because they aren't understood.

~Tiger

Answer 10

**** happends