Do you have hard time accepting the things given to you? Do you critically question life and think about it constantly? You might be one of the few people who are born gifted.
However, being intelligent and gifted has a downside. These people might be suffering from existential depression.
These people have a hard time adjusting to the norms of the society. For this reason, they constantly question life and its meaning. These anxieties towards life can cause existential depression through time.
This type of depression generally occurs after traumatic events. However, people who possess higher intellectual properties can go through depression without living any trauma.
But what is the reason behind this?
Gifted people tend to think deeply about life, contrary to ordinary people who choose to go with the flow. These minds are constantly filled with questions and worries that increase the risk of depression.
These people are sensitive to what is going on around them. They usually think about all the possibilities and how things could work out differently. Through analyzing things, they gain the ability to see what is going wrong with the current system.
They also tend to be more emotional than ordinary people. These emotions cause more disappointment when their expectations are not met.
These people have an ability to criticize the society they live in. For this reason, common knowledge and traditions should be questioned. They think about critical issues like gender, diversity, human relations and increasing intolerance. These problems within society are enough keep a gifted mind busy at all times. They are not afraid of facing the problems of the world they live in.
When a gifted person shares their worries to their loved ones, they usually get negative feedback. They realize that their peers in the society do not share the same concerns. Their peers mostly think about more substantial daily problems. As a result of this difference, gifted people tend to feel left out and isolate themselves.
When these intense thoughts get together with their potential, gifted people start to feel angry. They tend to feel that they do not meet the requirements of their own time. Put simply, they feel like they do not have the time to show their real potential. This feeling of lack forces them to make decisions that they are not sure of. When all of these processes add up together, their anger towards life gradually increases.
The gifted one realizes another fact through time: The things that are making them angry are completely out of their control. These are the consequences of a thing called life. Anger is groundless. This way, the anger transforms into depression.
This way, the questioning mind starts to look for a solution. It looks for a way out of this vicious cycle. Brutal realization of the absurdity of life leads to nihilistic thoughts. Next step is to question the meaning of life and existence. What does life mean, how are we going to embrace the fact that everything is absurd, etc...
These questions can be considered normal during a "mid-life crisis." However, if you're constantly questioning your life during your 20's, it indicates a more serious situation. This type of existential depression should be approached carefully, as it might have unpleasant consequences for the individual.
Well, what can we do to help the ones who are suffering from existential anxieties? There is nothing we can do about our finite existence. However, we can support the ones who are struggling by showing them they are not alone. One of the best ways to do that is to develop strong and meaningful relationships with them. You might not carry the same concerns as them, but just try to understand their worries.
Another way to cope with the feeling of exclusion is physical interaction. Hugging a loved one or making inside jokes around family and friends can provide comfort. Touching is considered to be the most basic and instinctive feature of existence. Not only those gifted ones, but also people going through depression can be saved through love and support. The only way to do that is to share their loneliness. May these wise words from Langton Hughes inspire them through their journeys:
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
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