In my experience, highly gifted individuals often face a unique kind of depression known as existential depression. While anyone might experience it due to a major loss, gifted individuals are more prone to spontaneous existential depression, and here’s why.

Existential depression arises when a person grapples with fundamental questions about life. These questions, or “ultimate concerns,” as described by Yalom (1980), encompass four key aspects: death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness. Gifted individuals, characterised by their deep and reflective thinking, can feel the weight of these concerns more intensely than others.

Let’s break down these concerns:

1. Death: The inevitability of death is a universal truth. Gifted individuals often ponder the significance of life’s impermanence and the finiteness of their existence. Such contemplation can be overwhelming, especially for young minds.
2. Freedom: In an existential sense, freedom refers to the absence of external structure in the world. It means that humans are not born into a pre-structured reality; instead, they must actively create their own meaning and purpose in life. Gifted individuals realize that life doesn’t come with a predetermined structure, and this awareness can lead to a sense of existential anxiety.
3. Isolation: While close relationships can provide deep connections, gifted individuals often sense a lingering gap, a sense of being fundamentally alone in their understanding of the world. This feeling of isolation can be exacerbated when others fail to grasp or engage with the profound questions they’re grappling with.
4. Meaninglessness: The first three concerns inevitably lead to questions about the meaning of life. If life is finite, if we must create our own purpose, and if we often feel alone in our existential musings, then what is the meaning of it all? These questions about the essence of life can be deeply unsettling.

So, why are gifted individuals more susceptible to existential depression?

Gifted individuals have some unique traits that predispose them to this type of depression:

• Idealism: Gifted individuals tend to be idealists. They envision an ideal world, but they also keenly perceive the gap between their ideals and reality. The resulting disappointment and frustration can be profound.
• Intense Sensitivity: Their intensity extends to their emotions. When gifted individuals encounter the dissonance between their ideals and the world’s imperfections, they often experience heightened disappointment and frustration.
• Critical Thinking: Gifted individuals possess the ability to spot inconsistencies, arbitrariness, and absurdities in societal norms and behaviours. They question traditions, societal expectations, and the authenticity of human interactions.
• Intense Multi-Potentiality: Gifted individuals often have multiple talents and passions. However, the finite nature of time and life itself forces them to make choices among their numerous interests. This inherent limitation can be a source of frustration.

The reaction of gifted youngsters to these existential frustrations often begins with anger. They may feel angry about the perceived unfairness of life’s limitations and their inability to control certain aspects of their existence. However, this anger is often directed at abstract concepts like “fate” rather than specific individuals or situations. When this anger remains unaddressed or unresolved, it can evolve into depression.

In the depths of existential depression, gifted individuals often seek meaning and purpose to counter feelings of hopelessness. They yearn for something to anchor themselves amid the chaos of existence. They ponder questions like, “Is this all there is to life? Does life only have meaning if I give it meaning?” These existential concerns are not surprising when experienced by thoughtful adults in mid-life crises. However, it’s a matter of great concern when these profound questions occupy the minds of young adolescents.

So, how can we help our bright youngsters cope with these existential questions?

1. Validation of Experience: Gifted individuals need to know that someone understands the existential issues they’re grappling with. While no two experiences are exactly alike, the reassurance that others have faced similar challenges can alleviate feelings of isolation.
2. The Importance of Touch: Like infants, individuals experiencing existential aloneness benefit from physical touch. Hugs, a pat on the back, or a simple “high five” can establish a crucial physical connection that combats feelings of isolation.
3. Exploration of Alternate Life Paths: The overwhelming choices in an unstructured world can be daunting for gifted individuals. Exploring how others have structured their lives can provide valuable guidance. Reading about people who have followed different paths to greatness and fulfilment can help them understand that choices are merely forks in the road, each leading to its own sense of fulfilment and accomplishment.
4. Personal Philosophical Development: Encouraging gifted individuals to build their own personal philosophy of beliefs and values can provide a meaningful framework for their lives. This philosophy helps them navigate the complexities of existence and make choices that align with their ideals.

It’s important to recognise that existential issues are not one-time challenges but ongoing aspects of life. By offering understanding, physical connection, guidance, and a philosophical foundation, we can support gifted individuals as they grapple with these profound questions and navigate their way through existential depression.