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Flavors of Giftedness

11/30/2020

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Photo by Noah Buscher on Unsplash
The term “giftedness” is a description of an uncommon complexity + intensity of cognition, emotion + sensation.  A gifted person has an above average intellectual intelligence that is often combined with additional unique areas of giftedness in one or more of these other areas of intelligence: emotional, creative, sensual, physical, and existential.

1. INTELLECTUAL: A strong interest in: learning, problem solving, seeking truth, curiosity, reading, theory, analysis, logic and independent thinking.

2. EMOTIONAL: Complexity to emotions, strong emotional memory, deep and intense feelings, heightened sense of empathy, justice and morality. 
3. CREATIVE: Ability to visualize detail. Strong interest in fantasy, inventions, music, art, humor, uniqueness.
4. SENSUAL : Enhanced sensory experience of the five senses. Often has high appreciation of beauty and harmony. 
5. PHYSICAL: Advanced physical skill or dexterity, preference for physical expression + fast action.

6. EXISTENTIAL: High focus on meaning, values, ethics, morality, ecological interconnectedness, and the nature of reality.

With these nuances in 'flavors' of giftedness, gifted people comprise quite the heterogeneous group., which makes it essential for each persons to discover their own giftedness profile to best understand their unique needs.

Think you may be gifted, but therapy hasn't been helpful in the past? Many gifted people are repeatedly misdiagnosed, so it is crucial that you work with a therapist who has worked with and have a nuanced understanding of your unique challenges, without resorting to labels and categories.


References: Gardner, H. (1983). Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. New York: Basic Books. Website: http://intergifted.com/what-is-giftedness/

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9 TIPS FOR SURVIVING SEASONAL CHANGES

11/1/2020

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Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that is directly related to -- you got it! -- changes in seasons. Symptoms tend to begin and end around the same time each year and usually start in the autumn and continue into the winter months. Common symptoms associated with seasonal affective disorder include:
  • Feeling depressed most of the day, nearly every day
  • Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed
  • Having low energy
  • Having problems with sleeping
  • Experiencing changes in your appetite or weight
  • Feeling sluggish or agitated
  • Having difficulty concentrating
  • Feeling hopeless, worthless or guilty
  • Having frequent thoughts of death or suicide

If this sounds familiar to the experience of you or someone you know, here are some tips to combat SAD and prepare to make this seasonal shift a bit more bearable:

1. Light therapy //
Light therapy involves using a special light box or lamp that produces similar effects to natural light, triggering chemicals in your brain that help regulate your mood. 
  • I recommend the Circadian Optics Lumos 2.0 for it's UV-free brightness (10K Lux) and adjustability.

2. Exercise //
Regular exercise (30-60 minutes, 3-5 times per week) can boost serotonin, endorphins, and other feel-good brain chemicals.  Even better if you're able to exercise outside in natural daylight (see #3).

3. Getting outside //
Fresh air + sunlight (think Vitamin D) can be just want your body + mind are in need of as the colder weather keeps you indoors most of the time.  Walking your dog (or just yourself) outside for 15-20 minutes 5 times per week may be enough to improve your mood.

4. Relaxation + yoga //
Breath work (try it in front of your light therapy!) and 20 minutes/day of yoga have been shown to alleviate symptoms of depression, including seasonally-induced mood shifts.  

5. Creative play //
Creativity can be negatively affected as seasons change, so it is important to create space for creative exploration to keep those juices flowing and mood lifted.  Ideas include: carrying a sketchbook, scheduling a group creating session via Zoom with other makers, order some new supplies, set monthly creative goals (ex: 2 hours of creating each week, one completed project, etc.).  Have fun!

5. Rituals//
With so much darkness, it can be life-giving and mood-boosting to create daily rituals to mark transitions toward + away from work/home life.  Diffuse some invigorating oils to start your day (rosemary + mint for me!) or light a candle when the work day has ended and your restoration time has begun.

6. Balanced diet //
Crave carbohydrates in the winter? Eat those carbs while making sure to balance out your diet with fresh fruits, vegetables, lean portions and whole grains to help stabilize blood sugars and, thus mood.

7. Therapy //
Counseling or therapy can help you to feel supported as well as to identify + change negative thoughts, challenge avoidance, and learn stress management skills. 

8. Medication //
Some people with SAD benefit from antidepressant treatment, especially if symptoms are severe. Be sure to check with your medical provider if this is a tool you'd like to incorporate into your self care plan. 

9. Avoiding drugs + alcohol //
Be aware of any inclination to self-medicate seasonal depression.  While alcohol and drug use may seem to bring immediate relief, they actually perpetuate depression + anxiety long term.

Hope this gives you some ideas as to how to alleviate any seasonal mood shifts.  Nothing changes if nothing changes, so try something new this winter! You are so worth it.


Reference for symptoms: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651

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Common challenges for gifted adults

10/5/2020

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Who is a gifted adult? It is a commonly misunderstood term with a limited traditional definition, often associated only with IQ. The reality is that there are multiple types of extraordinary abilities (including creativity!) not captured in that conventional conception of giftedness. 

Being gifted also comes with its own unique challenges due to the overall experience of feeling misunderstood (and being misunderstood) by others. Here are some common concerns that I see in gifted clients:
  • Low self-esteem. Consistent feelings of not fitting in with others in addition to perfectionistic tendencies + strong inner critic may contribute to a negative self narrative.
  • Relational frustration. Gifted adults often find others’ interests or conversation to be superficial or dull, which makes it difficult to participate socially in a genuine manner.  This also makes partnering a challenge for gifted adults.  
  • Creative issues. Gifted adults may experience a constant sense of urgency about wanting to pursue many ideas at once, which can make it difficult to decide where to put energy and even lead to underachievement. 
  • Lack of career satisfaction. Gifted adults may feel bored and ready for the next challenge once they reach a certain point in their career. They also may find it difficult to find career satisfaction when they can see so many issues, see how they could be addressed, and yet feel unable to make an impact.
  • Existential concern. Gifted adults’ innate ability to think abstractly may lead them to consider and deeply question issues such as death, freedom, and  the human condition. These thoughts can lead to feelings of hopelessness and meaninglessness.  
  • Substance use or addictive behaviors. In hopes to mitigate the intensity of their emotions and heightened sensitivity, gifted people may find ways to attempt to escape or numb. 
  • Misdiagnosis. Since many therapists are not aware of the different experience of gifted individuals, they may misinterpret thoughts, feelings, and behaviors typical of gifted adults and inappropriately diagnose.

Gifted Support
Think you may be gifted, but therapy hasn't been helpful in the past? Many gifted people are repeatedly misdiagnosed, so it is crucial that you work with a therapist who has worked with and have a nuanced understanding of your unique challenges, without resorting to labels and categories.

I have had the honor of supporting the unique needs of many gifted clients at Method and would love to work with you. 
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    By Lindsey Mackereth, MA, LPCC, LADC
    Owner of Method Counseling in Mpls, MN

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