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Existential depression in gifted individuals

Social and Emotional Resources
This article by James Webb discusses existential depression among gifted young people. He examines what it is, how it may manifest in a gifted child, and what a parent can do to help their child through these difficult feelings. He points out that gifted young people are more likely to have this type of depression because of their more highly developed sensitivities.

Author: Webb, J.
Publisher: Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG)
















Hold fast to dreams,
For if dreams die,
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams.
For if dreams go,
Life is a barren field
Covered with snow.

Langston Hughes






Permission Statement


Barbara Ramirez

It is so important that our classrooms are a safe place of learning for our students. We can set them up for success through classrooms that have: structure, safe learning environments, freedom to make choices and environments that celebrate differences!

Jennifer San Diego

I can relate to this article, even at 53 y/o. Success at the "tipping point" is a delusion if we believe that 10,000 hours of specialization is an assurance of success. Besides, the definition of success is relative. More than just a peak to climb, I consider it more now as an inner stability to acknowledge realities in life and an openness to learn from it and through it. I'm still on this journey, trying to find the right fit on the bike pedal.
The pandemic aggravated my health conditions, particularly the bones, nerves and muscles. I need a reinvention from my past design work lifestyle which demanded several sedentary seated hours. I may not be the High School basketball star whose bike accident crushed his dreams of going pro on court. If his passion led him to be a great sports commentator, I, too, continue to search for the bread and butter that can fill not just the stomachs but especially the mind, the heart and the soul. It's a real uphill climb in a poor but developing country, and much more now with the pandemic.
Praying to God who transcends this world helps me to acknowledge that He is bigger than anything we experience in this world. Having discovered this article on helping gifted children in their existential journey felt like a healing balm to address also my needs. As I take my own steps to therapy, I hope to help other parents as well.


I'm 34 currently, and from a young age to now I have felt this way. I've had moments of glossing over these thoughts, and you could call me successful in life as I am an engineer (not degreed) and make a good amount of money. As much as I have this "success", I feel it's wasted on me. I wish this success would have happened to my Dad, as I feel he is more deserving of it.

One thing about me is, I am a Christian. One line in this article stuck out and it is what I tried to put into words, but couldn't. That even as close as we can get to people, we are in fact ultimately alone. The only thing that can be closer, is having The Holy Spirit dwelling inside of you. Having that personal relationship can fill that void. Even knowing and experiencing that, I still fall short, and fall back into that existential depression.

If anyone reads this article and feels the way I do, like the type of people in this article. You are not alone, but life is difficult to grasp. I can't guarantee you won't ever feel this depression, but know you aren't the only one. As they say misery loves company, and you're in good company.

Kristaps Muravjovs

Hey man, I'm 32, fairly successful (with bouts of being hell-bent on destroying that success and myself, haha, but that's a topic for another day) and I gotta say - boy, was it a relief to read this article and your comment. Found it by googling "why does existential dread feel connected to the universe" (yeah, the choice of words may be lacking as English ain't my first language, but it really feels like it correlates to my curiosity and grasp on both, the sheer vastness of spacetime *and* it's inevitable end).
The article resonated with me intensely - it's like a confirmation that this does happen to people and I'm not going insane, as so far whenever I mention this to anyone - you guessed it - puzzlement , hostility or distancing. This article speaks about gifted kids - I'm far from being a child - but even at this age, this is the first time I get a confirmation that my sadness and frustration for people acting like thoughtless, arrogant a**holes to each other, as well as for me lacking kindness and love directed, (selfish, I know, lol) towards me, as I am willing (needing even?) to give love to others, to life itself as it really is a miracle. God, this has turned into chaos, haha. Sorry if this only confuses you, it's a little hard to stick to being coherent with this topic.
Lastly though - I've thought about spirituality in this context too. I don't believe in god - I do believe there's a lot I/we don't know though. And it's starting to feel almost necessary to make myself believe in some form of religion as otherwise it's getting dangerously close to an existential crisis for me. Idk, writing this drained me a little, so I don't have the energy to revise it to be more coherent - it's cool though, no need to reply (obviously) if you don't feel like it.
Thank you for the comment though, it really feels like it helped a little.

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