Introduction
Your gifted or twice-exceptional (2e) young adult has always been bright, motivated, and full of potential. Maybe they breezed through high school, racked up accolades, or developed niche passions that wowed adults. But now, in college or early adulthood, something has shifted. They’re unmotivated, anxious, emotionally shut down, or chronically exhausted. You’re wondering: What happened?
It might be burnout.
Burnout in gifted and 2e students often flies under the radar. It doesn’t look like collapse or chaos right away. Instead, it can show up as withdrawal, apathy, perfectionism, or even somatic symptoms like headaches and insomnia. And because gifted students are so good at compensating, they often push through far longer than they should.
In this post, we’ll explore the common signs of burnout in gifted and twice-exceptional students, what causes it, and how the right support can help them come back to themselves.
“Burnout doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it’s quiet, masked by achievement, and slowly eroding self-worth.”
What Burnout Looks Like in Gifted and 2e Young Adults
- Loss of Passion or Motivation
Subjects they once loved now feel meaningless. They express hopelessness or nihilism about the future. They may say things like, "What’s the point?" - Emotional Dysregulation
More frequent meltdowns, shutdowns, or outbursts. Emotional sensitivity or irritability is heightened. A sense of overwhelm from small triggers. - Cognitive Fatigue and Brain Fog
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or initiating tasks. Tasks that used to come easily now feel daunting or impossible. Procrastination or executive dysfunction increases. - Perfectionism and Impostor Syndrome
Fear of failure becomes paralyzing. They may delay starting assignments or avoid trying altogether. Thoughts like "I’m not as smart as people think I am" become more frequent. - Avoidance or Numbing Behaviors
Escaping into video games, sleep, food, or social media. Using substances to cope. Isolating from friends or support systems. - Somatic Complaints
Headaches, stomach aches, and other stress-related symptoms. Trouble sleeping or sleeping excessively. Frequent illnesses or a "worn down" immune system. - Loss of Identity or Self-Worth
Feeling like a failure despite external achievements. Questioning their purpose or sense of self. Saying things like, "I don’t even know who I am anymore."
Why Are Gifted and 2e Students So Prone to Burnout?
- Masking and compensation: Many 2e students hide their struggles so well that others don’t see the effort it takes to function.
- Internalized pressure: They tie their worth to achievement, making rest feel like failure.
- Asynchronous development: Advanced intellectual abilities paired with lagging emotional or executive function skills create chronic tension.
- Chronic sensory or emotional overwhelm: The world often feels "too much."
- Lack of meaningful support: Generic academic accommodations don’t always address their unique needs.
How Therapy Can Help
At The Center for Twice Exceptional Counseling, we specialize in supporting young adults who feel like they’ve hit a wall. Therapy isn’t about "fixing" them—it’s about helping them:
- Understand how their brain works and release shame around it
- Reconnect with their values and intrinsic motivation
- Build executive functioning and emotional regulation skills
- Set boundaries, routines, and habits that actually support their nervous systems
- Explore identity, autonomy, and purpose outside of achievement
Burnout is not a sign that your gifted teen or young adult is broken. It’s a sign that something’s not working. With the right support, they can heal, grow, and thrive in ways that feel sustainable.
“You’re not lazy. You’re not broken. You’re burnt out—and you deserve support that actually works for your brain.”
If You’re Seeing Signs of Burnout in Your Gifted or 2e Young Adult…
You don’t have to wait for a crisis. Therapy can provide a space where they feel understood, supported, and empowered to create a life that works for them.
