Emotional Outlook

When asked how they're feeling, gifted children who are suppressing their emotions usually say they're “fine,” even when their outward behavior shows clearly that they aren't fine. If they choose to do so, they can disguise their emotions better than most other children.
Gifted children often push their feelings down because they're frightened to show others what's going on in their inner lives. Their feelings are often so intense that the children wonder if they're “normal.” They can feel as if they're holding the ocean in a bottle; they may be afraid that if they take out the stopper, they'll be overwhelmed by the waves -than once they begin to vent their emotions, they won't be able to stop. They fear losing control, and if there's one thing gifted children need, it's a sense of self-control and belonging. So they act as normal and ordinary as possible and tell their parents what they think the parents want to hear. Most of the time, they know precisely what adults want them to say.
Friendship can be problematic. A gifted child may, after long consideration, confide deeply in one friend; that's why the break-up of a friendship can be so devastating. If the friendship falls apart, the child has no outlet for all the emotion previously shared with the lost friend. The child may then grieve deeply or show anger that seems excessive to parents.

Helping Gifted Children Soar
by Carol A. Strip, Ph.D with Gretchen Hirsch