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Ask HN: Former gifted children with hard lives, how did you turn out?

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231–240 of 357 posts

Re: Ask HN: Former gifted children with hard lives, how did you turn out?

#231
ACE 2, which seems lower than most here. ADD, only diagnosed in my early 30s (I'm 52 now). I guess I'm OK, if you consider "fairly regular job instability but also fairly high highs" OK... it's certainly more dramatic.

So I guess I'm just here to support the rest of you! hah

Re: Ask HN: Former gifted children with hard lives, how did you turn out?

#233
post #230

This is cathartic. Thanks. ACE 8. I was often hungry and cold. and sometimes homeless. I was poor in an area stricken with poverty (appalachia). I lived in a home that didn’t have half of an exterior wall, and we only had a kerosene heater. Often, there was no electric. We originally didn’t have plumbing except for an outhouse (luckily a federal program forced a corrupt contractor to tack on a shoddy bathroom to the…

Internet friend… please talk to someone. Use the 988 line. Mental health is only different from physical health because of societal norms. I don’t know you but please know your short description here stoked compassion in a stranger. Your life has value and meaning and impact. Thank you for sharing.

Re: Ask HN: Former gifted children with hard lives, how did you turn out?

#235
post #230

This is cathartic. Thanks. ACE 8. I was often hungry and cold. and sometimes homeless. I was poor in an area stricken with poverty (appalachia). I lived in a home that didn’t have half of an exterior wall, and we only had a kerosene heater. Often, there was no electric. We originally didn’t have plumbing except for an outhouse (luckily a federal program forced a corrupt contractor to tack on a shoddy bathroom to the…

I read it. I'm so sorry for what you went through, and that times are hard. Sending hugs your way.

Late 40s - you have so much of your life ahead of you! Are you medicated (with e.g. actual antidepressants)? Please explore that avenue as thoroughly as you can before doing anything drastic.

Re: Ask HN: Former gifted children with hard lives, how did you turn out?

#236
6.

I only live because I've failed at killing myself every time I've tried. I just need to wait it out. in the meantime I've got a good job that pays for shelter/food/entertainment. I have no ambition, no real drive towards anything. just serving out my time.

Re: Ask HN: Former gifted children with hard lives, how did you turn out?

#237
post #230

This is cathartic. Thanks. ACE 8. I was often hungry and cold. and sometimes homeless. I was poor in an area stricken with poverty (appalachia). I lived in a home that didn’t have half of an exterior wall, and we only had a kerosene heater. Often, there was no electric. We originally didn’t have plumbing except for an outhouse (luckily a federal program forced a corrupt contractor to tack on a shoddy bathroom to the…

Internet friend… please talk to someone. Use the 988 line. Mental health is only different from physical health because of societal norms. I don’t know you but please know your short description here stoked compassion in a stranger. Your life has value and meaning and impact. Thank you for sharing.

Thank you for your kind and empathetic words. I’ll probably be ok. I’m medicated and my therapist and psychiatrist are aware of my ideation. I have a very supportive spouse. I live an upper middle class life. When my ideation moves into active planning is when I reach out for additional help. Honestly, I feel very fortunate.

Re: Ask HN: Former gifted children with hard lives, how did you turn out?

#238
post #230

This is cathartic. Thanks. ACE 8. I was often hungry and cold. and sometimes homeless. I was poor in an area stricken with poverty (appalachia). I lived in a home that didn’t have half of an exterior wall, and we only had a kerosene heater. Often, there was no electric. We originally didn’t have plumbing except for an outhouse (luckily a federal program forced a corrupt contractor to tack on a shoddy bathroom to the…

You'll figure it out, sometimes doing nothing is exactly what is needed.

Look around you, lack of direction and medication/distraction is everywhere, and unfortunately suicide.

I would never judge anyone for wanting an easy out.

But I do feel its missing the point of the experience.

What is your passion? What makes you excited/happy?

Re: Ask HN: Former gifted children with hard lives, how did you turn out?

#239
post #150

ACE score of 8. I’m happy, live a life I find deeply meaningful and fulfilling, don’t suffer from any depression, I have a wife and two kids. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life. My teens and 20s were really rough, I spent a lot of time ruminating and just being a sourpuss. But I mostly knew I didn’t want to be like the people I’d been surrounded by when I was a kid. I got over it and stopped worrying about it…

> I use super bright lights in my home office during the winter. I started by bouncing several shop lights off the ceiling. That was so effective, during a remodel I recessed long LED light strips hidden behind cove molding around the whole room perimeter, to do the same. My whole ceiling is the light. An indoor sky. No glare, just a bright summer day, every day!

Do you have a write up of how you did this?

Re: Ask HN: Former gifted children with hard lives, how did you turn out?

#240
The worst thing is not failing. Could have excuses to justify a bad life due to family, poverty, violence, war, decadence, health or whatever but nothing worked. Always float back up with success, somehow.

You have a brain, it solves problems without your permission.

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