Supporting the Emotional Needs of your Gifted Child Dea Rivera, School Counselor, LMFT Charles Blackstock Jr. High

Parenting a gifted child is like living in a theme park full of thrill rides “Sometimes you smile. Sometimes you gasp. Sometimes you scream. Sometimes you laugh. Sometimes you gaze in wonder and astonishment. Sometimes you're frozen in your seat. Sometimes you're proud. And sometimes, the ride is so nerve-wracking, you can't do anything but cry."

Stress Study Question Within the last year of your life who has… Within the last year of your life who has… a) Experienced relatively low stress? b) Experienced light to moderate stress? c) Experienced high levels of stress?

Stress Protectors?  Some characteristics common among gifted students have also been cited as protective factors High intelligence High intelligence Problem-solving abilities Problem-solving abilities Advanced social skills Advanced social skills Advanced moral reasoning Advanced moral reasoning

Stress Study  Do you believe that stress is harmful to your health? Yes No When you change your mind about stress, you change your reaction to stress.

Your Response to Stress is Helpful - Positive Your body is actively preparing you for action- to meet the challenge that lies ahead Your body is actively preparing you for action- to meet the challenge that lies ahead Pounding heartPounding heart Breathing fasterBreathing faster AdrenalineAdrenaline Oxytocin (cuddle hormone)Oxytocin (cuddle hormone) Stress Makes us social!

Dabrowski’s Theory  Gifted are more likely to have a heightened response to stimuli- heightened intensities  The responses exceed what you would typically expect  Overexcitabilities Psychomotor Psychomotor Sensual Sensual Intellectual Intellectual Imaginational Imaginational Emotional Emotional

Psychomotor Overexcitability  Love movement & show a surplus of energy Can Look like… Rapid speech Sleeplessness Impulsive behavior Nervous habits Intense drive Compulsive organization What to do…

Sensual Overexcitability  Pleasure in sensory & aesthetic experiences  Displeasure in sensory experiences- sensory overload  Can look like.. Appreciative of beauty Appreciative of beauty Sensitive to sights, sounds, touch, smells & tastes Sensitive to sights, sounds, touch, smells & tastes Texture of food, hum of lights, tags in clothes Texture of food, hum of lights, tags in clothes Need or desire for comfort Need or desire for comfort Easily distracted Easily distracted Need to be center of Need to be center of attention or withdraw attention or withdraw from stimulation from stimulation What to do…

Intellectual Overexcitability  Deep Curiosity  Higher level of thinking Can look like… Love of problem solving Love of problem solving Asks many question Asks many question Active mind Active mind Fairness and justice are very important Fairness and justice are very important Avid reading Avid reading Keen observation Keen observation Prolonged ability to concentrate Prolonged ability to concentrate May seem critical and impatient (too honest) May seem critical and impatient (too honest) Moral thinking, metacognition, theory, analytical Moral thinking, metacognition, theory, analytical What to do…

Imaginational Overexcitability  Fantasizes and used imagery and metaphor  Spontaneous  Can look like… Daydreaming Daydreaming Thinking in pictures Thinking in pictures Remembering dreams Remembering dreams Good sense of humor Good sense of humor Mixes truth with fiction Mixes truth with fiction Love of poetry, drama, music Love of poetry, drama, music Fear of the unknownWhat to do… Fear of the unknownWhat to do…

Emotional Overexcitability Intense feelings, sensitive and empathetic Looks like… Capacity for deep relationships/attachments Compassionate and caring Anxiety, feelings of guilt- extreme emotions Can experience loneliness and depression Problems adjusting to change Somatic symptoms Highly self critical What to do…

Academics become more challenging and stress increases Academics become more challenging and stress increases  Perfectionistic tendencies  Peer relations  Shift in behavior or mood  Social isolation

Recommendations  Discuss positives related to sensitivities  Support path of passion (well-rounded)  Teach skills to cope with overload  Encourage healthy friendships (monitor)  Make time to talk & listen to your child  Maintain boundaries on screen time  Praise efforts, not just successes  Help set priorities  Seek help of experts when necessary  Exercise, eat well and relax

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