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Monday, August 1, 2016

Is your gifted teen socially isolated?

Parents typically worry about their socially active teens - out with friends, going to parties, running off to do who knows what.

But what happens when your child seems socially isolated or withdrawn?

Gifted teens, in particular, may struggle to fit in and find their niche; they may withdraw after years of feeling different from peers, unable to find friends who truly understand them. It can be heartbreaking to watch your child stay home night after night - even if you don't have to worry about parties and alcohol.

We know that social isolation can have negative effects for teens. It can impact their quality of life, result in feelings of sadness, emptiness, and low self-esteem, and is associated with an increased risk for depression and even suicide.

What can you do?


The first step is determining whether your teen's time alone is cause for concern. Gifted adolescent behavior can be mislabeled or misdiagnosed, and your child's time alone may not necessarily reflect a problem. Several examples include the following:

  • Your teen might be an introvert who prefers time alone to recharge, immerse himself in creative ideas, or engage in solo activities. A high proportion of gifted people have been identified as introverts, so it is possible your child might be one. 

  • Your child is adapting to the reality that she has few friends who share her view of the world. She may feel different from her peers, and has accepted that until she graduates, she would rather entertain herself than conform to her peer group's expectations. Also, if asynchronous development is an aspect of her giftedness, her social skills and interests may not correspond with those of students her age.

  • Your teen could be engrossed in a sudden new interest that sparks his imagination and excitement. If he seems enthused, energized and can barely come up for air, it might be a temporary immersion in a new passion where he is in a state of creative "flow." As long as he still takes some time for friends and family, the intensity may fade and he should eventually find more balance in his activities.


Sometimes, though, spending time alone can signal a problem, especially if it is:


  • excessive (your child rarely spends time with family or any friends). Even introverts need to socialize. Refusing to socialize much at all or abstaining from almost every social event can be a sign that your child is feeling distressed, or at the very least, lonely and isolated.

  • a sudden change in behavior (a highly or even moderately social child suddenly withdraws). Any dramatic shift in behavior can signal emotional distress, an upsetting fall-out with friends, or feelings of guilt or shame related to some real or perceived misdeed.

  • accompanied by other signs of distress (depression, anxiety, panic attacks, an increase in angry outbursts, a change in sleeping or eating patterns, self-destructive behaviors, eating disorders or substance abuse). These symptoms need to be taken seriously and often require some supportive treatment.

  • a symptom of a long-standing, problematic pattern that causes your child to withdraw (such as excessive shyness, social anxiety, low self-esteem or poor body image, trauma resulting from previous incidents of bullying, or interpersonal difficulties due to feeling like an outlier from peers, asynchronous development, or even an autism spectrum disorder). Even if these behaviors are long-standing, they can contribute to further distress and isolation and often warrant some form of intervention or treatment.

  • a reflection of what might be considered an internet "addiction,"  (where your teen seems excessively preoccupied with screen time, prefers video/computer activities to time with friends, and/or forms online relationships through games that become his primary source of support). Most teens are attached to their phones, but when the above listed signs are present, it can signal a problem.

If your teen seems socially isolated, what is the next step?



It is critical to identify the severity of the problem and potential for long-term consequences. A temporary reaction to conflict with a close friend is quite different from clinical depression. First, see if you can help your child put the problems in perspective, brainstorm ideas that might remedy the situation (such as finding more options for meeting like-minded peers), or come up with a plan to remove the offending agent (such as dropping a class or reducing screen time). If a distressing situation seems like it may persist - anything from despair over classes that cannot meet her needs to mental health symptoms - action is needed. Speaking directly with school counselors or seeking therapeutic support with a licensed mental health professional can be essential. More specifics about how you can help your socially isolated teen will follow in Part II of this series.

This blog is part of Hoagie's Gifted Education page blog hop on Social Issues. To see more blogs, click on the following link: http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/blog_hop_social_issues.htm

21 comments:

  1. This is a helpful post- the line between an introverted teen's need for space and true withdrawal can be a blurry one. I always appreciate reading about gifted teens. Thank you!

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    1. Thanks, Cait. I agree, it is often hard to distinguish what is appropriate time alone and when it signals a problem. It is particularly hard for an anxious parent to know what to think. I appreciate your feedback!

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  2. Looking forward to Part II. We have the crazy mix of asynchronous development, introversion and auditory processing difficulties compounded by living in a smaller community. Two years of homeschooling has helped with gaining autonomy and self-confidence but we still worry. A lot.

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    1. Dandy, I appreciate your input. Worrying seems to be common when you're juggling so many variables. But it sounds like you've done a lot to try to remedy the situation. Good luck.

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  3. SOOOOO important to discern if the isolation is masking something much darker or if it's just a natural part of the teenage process of pulling away from family as they work to redefine their own identity.

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    1. Alessa, Thank you for your comments. I agree - sorting out when it's "normal" and when it is something more is so important, and it can be difficult when it comes to the ups and downs with teens. Important point about how they are pulling away to form their own identity - something essential for all adolescents and young adults. Thanks!

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  4. Thank you for a wonderful post! I love your point about introverts and your advice on distinguishing between possible causes. I am looking forward to part two, as well!

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  5. I have a teen who just started high school and knows 4 kids out of the 2200. While he hasn't yet talked about eating lunch with a friend (breaks my heart), I also remember that just last year numerous kids clamored to sit with him and it'll come. He's fine with it so far, but is definitely in transition at a new school and being an introvert content to play video games just makes it trickier, but I'll give it time. Thanks for bringing it to the forefront for me and for distinguishing the differences.

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    1. Atlas,

      It is so hard to hold back our worries as parents. It sounds like your son has found his way before, so hopefully will find the right fit soon. Good luck.

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  6. My 13 year old has been socially isolated for years; which never seems to bother him but I worry. Only recently did I connect the possibility of his giftedness with his highly, highly introverted personality.
    I have tried counselors but I am beginning to think I may need to bring him to a child psychologist that specializes in gifted children. Thoughts?? Thanks!

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    1. Vicky, If you feel that your child's isolation is problematic, it can be helpful to find a mental health professional who understands giftedness. You could always start with your pediatrician, school counselor, or your minister/priest/rabbi for referrals. If they don't have any ideas, you could check the Hoagie's Gifted website for a list of therapists, or check with your state psychological association or social work association, for example. Try to avoid getting referrals from your insurance company, since those are often fairly random and not specific to your needs. Good luck.

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  7. That's a tough one. It sounds like you are keeping a close watch on him. Adolescents are very private, especially boys, and it is sometimes hard to know what is really going on. I would imagine that if he started to show signs of depression or anxiety, you would notice it. Good luck.

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  8. Thank you for sharing these warning signs. It can be difficult as a parent to know when there is an issue that needs to be addressed versus "normal" behavior. Thanks Gail!

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  9. I am “Anonymous” from the perfectionist post who made the mistake of postulating that having lower SAT scores is reason to doubt giftedness.

    I do not know where to begin or how to properly frame this, but I think that there is something wrong with me. After being tested, I have this urge to look at characteristics of gifted children that are supposed to fit the range that I tested in. I have no idea what I did as a kid— surely do not recall reading at 2 or doing Algebra at 8! I find reading to be hard without visualizing the dialogue, and I do not even enjoy it in the first place... My vocabulary is limited. I “failed” the timed IAAT in 6th grade, which makes me doubt myself even more and contributed to my hatred for school (It was too easy, but I had no one or anything to turn to. I am the only one in my who is “openly” gifted). My interests do not include any non-math or non-spatial related activities. I was obsessed with giving direction based on infrastructure, houses, swimming pools, word searches and puzzles, dog birthing, dogs, guinea pigs, my pillow case, crime shows, serial killers, gangs, etc., but I never taught myself how to do anything other than higher math in my teen years and spreadsheet and coding “stuff" when I realized that complacency had backfired. I was an avid player of 24; however, I was too nervous to compete. And I never ventured into challenging material as I should have.

    Surprisingly, I was able to do all of this whilst retaining A’s with little effort. The cost of it was battling with depression, homicidal tendencies, suicidal thoughts, anger issues, manipulation of self and others, etc. (I would pretend to kill myself in various ways; and I still do) all by myself in my head and later in my room after school. My mom believes that middle school was traumatic for me, and that is when everything went downhill. After 4 years, I am still trying to cope with the same old issues that plagued me then. I am essentially picking petals off of flowers over so many predicaments.

    Whenever I look up programs for gifted kids, it is always for younger individuals. I cannot blame my parents for just letting me be me (they are not concerned about giftedness), but it is hard to look at pictures of kids on program pamphlets, books about/for the gifted, etc. and rarely see people who are Black like me. It is nerve wracking because I feel like I cannot fit in. There are cultural barriers that make relatability too convoluted. My siblings and I are nowhere near each other in terms of giftedness (one may be 2e). I want a companion or two, not just people whom I can call friends to appear socially acceptable. I was actually at NASA for a week, and there were two men talking about drugs and their relationship to prison. Despite feeling sick due to sleep deprivation, I was rather happy. I have always had to change myself and my interests so that people would be friends with me. As a result, I have no idea what I even like as of now besides my new obsession, studying giftedness, but there are few resources that are not repetitive after a while. Every time I think about doing something, such as building model homes, I always back out for capricious reasons. I now constantly feel like I have to prove to myself that I am gifted when it does not even feel like it. I get bored with things quickly, so rarely do I ever have any deep interests.

    I just do not know what to do with my life. And summer is the time of year when I do not get especially morbid. I am taking college classes for my senior year, and I am worried about the heavy workload. I really do not like having to do school work, so writing papers, doing projects, etc. is a struggle. I do not know how to deal with my own problems because all I ever do is defer them for later days… a train wreck in the making I suppose… I cannot fathom what I am searching for, but I just want someone to talk to. I am worried that my capacity to be in non-familial/predetermined relationships is poor as of late on account of these issues. That is all I guess.

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    1. Anonymous, Please speak with your parents about taking you to meet with a licensed counselor to help you understand some of the struggles you are experiencing. All the best.

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  10. Thanks. However, my mother always claims that my issues are due to spiritual attacks and my father does not listen to anyone— his opinions matter most... I think that I will wait until I can leave for college. After years of dealing with the predicaments on my own, the thought of meeting with a counselor feels peculiar.

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  11. Hi,
    I am a former gifted kid who has spectacularly crashed and burned out (okay grades in very difficult classes). Anyway, I have high-functioning autism, and even though I appear neurotypical and don't outwardly show any signs of it, I have been shunned by my peers. Even though I have felt more accepted and understood this year, and people aren't as cold to me, I am constantly lonely and bored on the weekends, even if I ask 15-20 people if they want to get together. No one has asked me to hang out in a couple of years, and I don't know how I can spend four more months at my hellhole high school. None of these problems occur when I meet people in new environments, like on vacation or at an academic seminar. I just want to belong and feel accepted, and since I don't have that feeling, along with the fact that I've had to deal with people taunting and mocking me the entire year, have caused my grades to plummet, my depression to worsen, my anxiety to SKYROCKET, and created a rift between me and my parents. I just don't know where to turn... I have a therapist, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, am on a regimen of medication, and have my entire family and much of my teachers behind me, yet I am still distressed and frustrated. I don't even know if I deserve all this; others have much worse problems than me, but they do not have the resources or means that I do to fix them. I am in pain, and I'd love some advice right now.

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    1. Andrew, I am so sorry that you are struggling so much. I am sure people have told you that things will improve eventually, but that must seem like a long time to wait. I hope that you continue to work with your therapists, and perhaps the school can work with you and your parents to come to some solutions. Wishing you all the best.

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    2. Thank you. Four months seems like an eternity. Hopefully I can wait it it out... I've communicated my frustrations with my school, but they don't really care if students have a safe, welcoming learning environment. A large majority of the people who go to my school dislike it, and other kids are also experiencing the viciousness of the student body as well. Enrollment is declining very fast, and I just feel a little comfort that I am not alone by a longshot in my grievances.

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