Giftedness and MD

[Katherine Milano]

Hey guys. The possible connection between giftedness and MD is something that I have been wondering about for a while, but never posted.  The reason for this is that I find it embarrassing to talk about being 'gifted', because, honestly, 'giftedness' is a horrible title which makes it seem like I am bragging any time that I talk about this part of my identity. So, sorry about that.

I was tested for giftedness in third grade, and, after that, attended gifted classes in school. I lived for these classes and I needed them. In high school, they were no longer offered, but I still felt that I needed the support that they provided, so I started to research extensively about giftedness online in my free time, just to remind myself that I wasn't crazy and that my experiences were normal.

Giftedness can and often does come with a set of 'overexcitabilities', which are areas in which a gifted person becomes habitually overstimulated. One of these possible overexcitabilities is imaginational overexcitability, which is pretty much what it sounds like. It is characterized by having, for example, many imaginary friends as a child, having vivid dreams, and yes, creating elaborate imaginary worlds inside one's head.

Having been on this forum for over a year now, I have noticed that many of the people on here are extremely talented and intelligent. I am not going to speculate that there any a connection between giftedness and MD, but I wanted to put the idea out there. Who else on this site identifies as gifted?

Just as a sidenote, since there are approximately 5,000 people on this site, statistically at least 150 are probably gifted.

Yeah, this is why I don't post about giftedness. I don't know what to say to make me not sound like an arrogant jerk. Sorry if it comes off that way.

[Roel]

You don't sound arrogant Katherine :) Don't even appolagize for it. You are gifted and it's okay to say so. It's not your fault they gave it such an odd name ;)

I think MDD can be connected to many things. For instance depression, loneliness, autism -and yes- giftedness can be addded to that list as well. Just like you I'm not sure if there's a direct connection -or if there's a connection at all- but it's good of you to put the idea out here :)

I've been through all kind of tests and was diagnosed with Autismspectrumdisorder (ASD). I am pretty sure my MDD came to be thanks to my aspergers. Aspergers always live in thier own world and use their imagination a lot. It's easy for some kind of addiction to that imagination to pop up. At least that's my theory.

I was never diagnosed as gifted, and actually people have been calling me retarded my entire life. So I'm not one of these 150 :/

[Bee]

I'm always stunned by how talented people here are - I wouldn't be surprised to see a good amount of gifted people among them. So I can totally see the link between giftedness and MD. If someone was gifted, MD would certainly contribute to it in a major way. I believe giftedness is related to creativity or an ability to see the world in a different way from those around you. Newton Picaso, Mozart, Einstein, Boole, Fisher...

MDers are always 'between two worlds' - so our brains might be working overtime trying to keep everthing 'straight. The creative centres of our brains might always be on, easily activated or always turned up to 11. Any of those would be a great tool for a gifted person.

Question is: Is the gifteness, because of the MD or is the MD an after effect of the giftedness....

[Booklady]

I actually tested as "gifted" in the 5th Grade, and was put into special classes. (I've been "creating worlds" in my head since I was a child - probably 6 or 7 yrs old.) I don't know if there's a connection really - I thought I was alone in MDD until I found this website. <grin>

I've also had 2 major clinical depressions, so I definitely fit in those categories as well. Each time the daydreams have stopped for a while, and later returned. My therapist feels that the MDD fits in with my OCD - the daydreams are the "rituals" I turn to when I'm stressed and need a break. <shrug>