August's Monthly Resource Guide

Questions to ask, Books to read, Games to play and Resources you need

I had an epiphany of sorts this summer.

Yes, emotional intensity is one of the biggest aspects of giftedness.

Yes, learning strategies, reframing our understanding and validating the intensity is essential for helping our gifted kids.

But what about ourselves?

I’ve been sharing a bit this summer about my decision to take medication for ADHD. When I made that decision, it was based on productivity, on feeling like I was always sinking, on saving myself from constantly hating on myself.

Emotional regulation had nothing to do with it.

Sure, that may have been a leading reason why we chose the medication route for our children, but me? I am a grown adult. I have three children, two of whom are gifted which comes with daily - hourly! - emotional intensity that I need to regulate. Perhaps I am also emotionally intense, but I have learned how to handle my emotions.

Or so I thought.

After taking the medication I realized that while it worked wonders to slow down my brain, this also allowed me to slow down my reaction to emotions.

Because as a grown-up gifted kid, I also have emotional intensity. And in all honesty? This has always been the trait I have tried to mask the most.

No one else is this affected; it’s not a big deal.

Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry.

Why are you still focused on this? Move on!

You’re just sensitive.

And in spending a lifetime trying to minimize my emotional intensity, I had mistakenly come to believe that I was in control of my emotions.

But that was never the case. If anything, my emotions were always there right under the surface, fighting to get released. So one conflict from my children, one moment of their dysregulation and I would explode - a firework of feelings I had been subconsciously holding at bay.

Is medication the right path for everyone?

Of course not.

This reflection isn’t meant to be a promotion of medication - but more so a promotion of honest reflection. Because we cannot be everything for everyone else in our lives without being accepting of ourselves.

Now it’s time for August’s Monthly Resource Guide: questions to ask, books to read, games to play and resources you need.

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