Another key reason that some adults don’t self-identify as gifted, I believe, is that to do so could mean setting yourself up for judgement that you’ve failed to utilize your gifts, both judgement from others and perhaps most damning, self-judgement. If you’re disappointed in your accomplishments in life, why pile on the additional pressure of having only accomplished that much while being gifted?

Mind you, it can of course be turned around, as you seem to have done. “Wait a minute, I’m gifted, I’m going to go out into the world and kick some ass!” If you don’t, though, identifying as gifted could just pile on the existing pain or depression.