The concerns, dramatizations, and blendings of truth and fiction, which may abound with this ability, lead many a gifted youngster into the system's doghouse. Mary had always been a moody child. The least bit of criticism or taunting would bring her to tears. Other students would be encouraged to tease her more, and nothing her teachers or parents did would stop either the teasing or her reactions. While she had always been an extremely good student, after she was placed in the special education program, as an emotionally disturbed child, she did less and less work, and, finally, stopped talking altogether.
Intense sensitivity can lead quickly to feelings of rejection, inadequacy, guilt, and loneliness.
This is compounded by a combination of factors which arise regularly in almost any elementary school setting. In the classroom, the majority of the students must have their apparent needs met. This is pragmatic. While this may be a half-truth, it is a potentially devastating lesson. It is followed by the disapproval of the teacher and classmates for being too sensitive - which makes the seeming rejection even more real to the sensitive youngster.