Living With Live Wires

Stress is a part of life; you cannot avoid it. Life consists of change, and change results in stress. When stress is severe, we don’t function as well as we normally do. We may doubt our ability to cope with the situation at hand, or even to manage ourselves. Feelings of anxiety and discomfort arise. If we see no solutions or alternatives, we can experience a major stress reaction that inhibits our ability to function effectively. If a feeling of helplessness or hopelessness accompanies the stress, depression can result.

This is often the experience of gifted children through different stages of their lives. Although extreme stress is harmful, some stress is beneficial. Stress motivates us to do our best. We need to be challenged.

Fortunately, most gifted children begin setting challenges for themselves at an early age, although they sometimes set unrealistic standards for themselves and others. With guidance, they can learn to adjust standards to realistic levels.

Webb states, long-term studies with a wide range of people over a period of more than 50 years have documented that the way in which individual handle stress predicts whether or not they will reach their potential. In the same way that academic ability can be cultivated so can many components of resilience and stress management.

Stress can be supported with creative strategies.