Gifted Burnout

If you were once the “bright kid” who could handle anything, but now feel exhausted, unmotivated, or emotionally drained — you might be experiencing gifted burnout.

This isn’t about suddenly becoming lazy or losing your abilities. It’s what happens when someone with high capability has been under pressure for too long, often without the right kind of support.

You might recognise this if you:

• Were labelled “gifted” in school
• Are twice-exceptional (2e) or neurodivergent
• Feel the weight of perfectionism or constant pressure to succeed
• Have been told you “have so much potential” your whole life

What gifted burnout actually looks like

People often don’t recognise gifted burnout because it doesn’t look like typical “struggling.” Instead, you might:

• Lose interest in things that used to excite you
• Feel paralysed when it comes to starting or finishing tasks
• Experience emotional numbness, anxiety, or shutdowns
• Feel like a failure even when others see you as successful
• Question whether you were ever actually “smart” at all

This usually builds up over years of high expectations combined with support needs that nobody recognised — including yourself.

Why it’s often invisible

Because you’ve always appeared capable on the outside, your struggles often get dismissed or overlooked. You might:

• Hide your challenges because you’ve learned that’s what’s expected
• Avoid asking for help because it feels like admitting weakness
• Be told to “just cope” or “figure it out” because “you’re smart enough”
• Feel guilty for struggling when others see you as having it easy

The gap between how others see you and how you feel inside can be incredibly isolating.

You deserve support and rest

Recovering from gifted burnout isn’t about working harder or finding more motivation. It’s about:

• Giving yourself permission to be human, not just “high-achieving”
• Recognising that having strengths doesn’t mean you don’t have support needs
• Creating space for rest, play, and doing things badly
• Understanding that your worth isn’t tied to your performance

Burnout isn’t a sign that you’re broken or that you were never really gifted. It’s a sign that you’ve been carrying too much for too long without enough support. You deserve care, not just expectations.