Gifted Students Gifted Students Self-InjurrySelf-Injurry

Joe Ray and Nancy Joe Ray and Nancy UnderwoodUnderwood

MAGC, 2009MAGC, 2009

Depression, Suicidal Depression, Suicidal Tendencies, and Self-Tendencies, and Self-

InjuryInjury CausesCauses

Obsessive CompulsionsObsessive Compulsions Perfectionism (high expectations Perfectionism (high expectations

imposed by self and others)imposed by self and others) Social isolation (not solitude)Social isolation (not solitude) Sensitivity/over-excitabilitySensitivity/over-excitability Existential depressionExistential depression

"The truly creative mind in any "The truly creative mind in any field is no more than this: field is no more than this:  A A human creature born abnormally, human creature born abnormally, inhumanly sensitive. inhumanly sensitive. 

To him/her... To him/her... 

a touch is a blow, a touch is a blow, 

a sound is a noise, a sound is a noise, 

a misfortune is a tragedy, a misfortune is a tragedy, 

a joy is an ecstasy, a joy is an ecstasy, 

a friend is a lover, a friend is a lover, 

a lover is a god, a lover is a god, 

and failure is death. and failure is death. 

Creative mind Creative mind (continued)(continued)

Add to this cruelly delicate organism Add to this cruelly delicate organism the overpowering necessity to create, the overpowering necessity to create, create, create - - - so that without the create, create - - - so that without the creating of music or poetry or books or creating of music or poetry or books or buildings or something of meaning, buildings or something of meaning, his/her very breath is cut off from his/her very breath is cut off from him/her. S/He must create, must pour him/her. S/He must create, must pour out creation. By some strange, out creation. By some strange, unknown, inward urgency s/he is not unknown, inward urgency s/he is not really alive unless s/he is creating."really alive unless s/he is creating."  -  -Pearl BuckPearl Buck- - 

Misconceptions about Misconceptions about StressStress

I can think myself out of feeling bad.I can think myself out of feeling bad. I must be crazy for thinking/feeling the I must be crazy for thinking/feeling the

way I do.way I do. If I keep busy, I’ll eventually feel better If I keep busy, I’ll eventually feel better

about myself.about myself. If I tell anyone about how I feel, he/she If I tell anyone about how I feel, he/she

won’t care, understand or support me.won’t care, understand or support me. I need to handle these fears and problems I need to handle these fears and problems

by myself. (Asking for help = dumb, by myself. (Asking for help = dumb, incompetent, …)incompetent, …)

It is not okay to cry.It is not okay to cry.

Misconceptions Misconceptions (continued)(continued)

If I can get through today, tomorrow is If I can get through today, tomorrow is bound to be better.bound to be better.

I should be able to figure things out by I should be able to figure things out by myself.myself.

Life is so serious.Life is so serious. All I need is to be left alone for a while.All I need is to be left alone for a while. I don’t have time to eat right, relax, or I don’t have time to eat right, relax, or

play.play. Other people know what is best for me.Other people know what is best for me.

Coping with StressCoping with Stress

Coping with StressCoping with Stress

Distraction (short term diversion)Distraction (short term diversion) Avoidance (distractions carried to an Avoidance (distractions carried to an

extreme)extreme) Be careful with over doing itBe careful with over doing it ProcrastinationProcrastination IllnessIllness SleepSleep WithdrawalWithdrawal

Escape (avoidance carried to an extreme)Escape (avoidance carried to an extreme)

When You Can’t CopeWhen You Can’t Cope

Admit that you are in trouble – this is a Admit that you are in trouble – this is a sign that you are a psychologically sign that you are a psychologically strong person.strong person.

Get another perspective.Get another perspective. Cease negative coping behaviors.Cease negative coping behaviors. Reach out and trust someone.Reach out and trust someone. Plan to deal with personal issues.Plan to deal with personal issues. Be good to yourself.Be good to yourself. Believe in life’s goodness.Believe in life’s goodness.

StressStress

Counseling GoalsCounseling Goals

Understanding of their strengths and Understanding of their strengths and weaknesses weaknesses

Self-acceptance and recognition of their Self-acceptance and recognition of their limitations Commitment to nurturing limitations Commitment to nurturing their abilities their abilities

Development of internal locus of control Development of internal locus of control Acceptance of mistakes as learning Acceptance of mistakes as learning

experiences experiences Conflict resolution skillsConflict resolution skills

Counseling goals Counseling goals (continued)(continued) Problem-solving skills Problem-solving skills

Awareness, understanding, and Awareness, understanding, and acceptance of others acceptance of others

Communication skills Communication skills Ability to be assertive rather than Ability to be assertive rather than

aggressive aggressive Interpersonal skills Interpersonal skills Leadership and decision-making skills Leadership and decision-making skills Knowledge of stress reduction techniques Knowledge of stress reduction techniques Ability to view themselves and events Ability to view themselves and events

with humorwith humor

Stress TestStress Test This is a simple test designed to indicate This is a simple test designed to indicate

whether people have too much stress in whether people have too much stress in their life. their life.

Below is a picture of two dolphins.  The Below is a picture of two dolphins.  The two dolphins should appear normal when two dolphins should appear normal when viewed by a stress-free individual.  This viewed by a stress-free individual.  This test is not accurate enough to pick up mild test is not accurate enough to pick up mild stress levels. stress levels.

Sit upright and view the screen head-on, Sit upright and view the screen head-on, take a deep breath, breathe out  and then take a deep breath, breathe out  and then look directly at the picture.   If there is look directly at the picture.   If there is anything out of the ordinary then you anything out of the ordinary then you should consider taking things a little should consider taking things a little easiereasier

If there was anything that If there was anything that appeared different about the appeared different about the dolphins (ignore the fact of the dolphins (ignore the fact of the slight color differences) it is often slight color differences) it is often an indication of potential stress an indication of potential stress related problems.   related problems.  

Differences, if any, may also Differences, if any, may also indicate the source of your stress. indicate the source of your stress.

Stress Reduction TipsStress Reduction Tips(The Gifted Kids Survival Guide)(The Gifted Kids Survival Guide)

Think of times when you successfully Think of times when you successfully coped with a difficult situation, person, or coped with a difficult situation, person, or eventevent

Avoid alienating people around you (even Avoid alienating people around you (even if you erroneously believe they caused if you erroneously believe they caused your stress)your stress)

Find a sounding boardFind a sounding board If you don’t know how to relax, learn how If you don’t know how to relax, learn how

(see handout)(see handout) Develop and maintain your sense of humorDevelop and maintain your sense of humor

Tips (continued)Tips (continued) Compile a library of stress reduction Compile a library of stress reduction

techniquestechniques Don’t give up: handling stress in on-going Don’t give up: handling stress in on-going

and long term endeavorand long term endeavor You don’t have to go it aloneYou don’t have to go it alone

a supportive adulta supportive adult the public librarythe public library

a friendly neighbora friendly neighbor a stress management a stress management classclass

a teen clinica teen clinic your favorite friendyour favorite friend

a crisis intervention cta crisis intervention ct a counselora counselor

an emergency hotlinean emergency hotline a teacher of the gifteda teacher of the gifted

Facts You Need to Know Facts You Need to Know About SuicideAbout Suicide

Suicide is 2Suicide is 2ndnd highest killer of young people, highest killer of young people, 15-24 years old15-24 years old Each year, estimated 500,000 youth attempt Each year, estimated 500,000 youth attempt

suicidesuicide During next 10 years, suicide rate predicted to During next 10 years, suicide rate predicted to

increase fastest among 10–14 yr. oldsincrease fastest among 10–14 yr. olds Few suicides happen without some warningFew suicides happen without some warning Suicide Suicide isis preventable preventable

InterveneIntervene Ask questions Ask questions

Facts (continued)Facts (continued)

Talking about suicide won’t give teenagers Talking about suicide won’t give teenagers ideasideas

Suicide is Suicide is notnot inherited inherited Most suicidal people are Most suicidal people are notnot mentally ill mentally ill People who talk about suicide commit People who talk about suicide commit

suicidesuicide Suicide is Suicide is notnot just a way to get attention just a way to get attention Suicidal teens believe their problems are Suicidal teens believe their problems are

seriousserious Many things lead up to a suicideMany things lead up to a suicide

Facts (continued)Facts (continued)

No special type of people commit No special type of people commit suicide suicide

People who attempt suicide are in People who attempt suicide are in most danger when they start to feel most danger when they start to feel betterbetter

A caring friend A caring friend cancan make a make a differencedifference

Warning SignsWarning Signs

Sudden ChangesSudden Changes FoodFood SleepSleep GradesGrades AppearanceAppearance ActivityActivity WithdrawalWithdrawal

Significant lossSignificant loss

Tying up loose Tying up loose endsends

Aggression, Aggression, rebellion, rebellion, disobediencedisobedience

Self destructive Self destructive behavior, risk behavior, risk takingtaking

Loss of self esteemLoss of self esteem

Peace SignsPeace Signs

Discuss with students what they do Discuss with students what they do to bring peace into their livesto bring peace into their lives

Discuss symbols for “peace”Discuss symbols for “peace” Draw words pictures in 4 areas to Draw words pictures in 4 areas to

represent your “Peace Signs”represent your “Peace Signs” Write about your “Peaceful Signs” Write about your “Peaceful Signs”

on the circleon the circle

From From Dictionary of SymbolsDictionary of Symbols by Jack by Jack TressiderTressider

(1997) San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books(1997) San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books