Do people who suffer from anxiety and depression tend to be more intelligent?
I know people who’ve had depression and/or anxiety and most of them seem to be very smart people. Conversely, most of the people I know who aren’t very intelligent tend not to suffer from mental illnesses. In fact, most of the ‘not very bright’ people I know tend to be the happiest people I know.
Is there a link between high IQ and anxiety/depression?
I’m not sure it has anything to do with cleverness I think it’s more to do with how sensitive people are but then again I can see where you are coming from because the more sensitive a person then more a person thinks and you have to think to be clever! 
March 29th, 2010 at 5:28 am
Believe it got alot do with.the way people some them get treated at school if there smart .The way the bullys attck them.but I dont believe that that got anything do with depression or anxiety.
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March 29th, 2010 at 6:07 am
I’v noticed this too probley because we know alot more and dumber people only have a 1 tracked mind.
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March 29th, 2010 at 6:27 am
I’m not sure it has anything to do with cleverness I think it’s more to do with how sensitive people are but then again I can see where you are coming from because the more sensitive a person then more a person thinks and you have to think to be clever!
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March 29th, 2010 at 6:47 am
Being a sufferer of both, I would like to say yes! :p saying that I do actually have an IQ of 144 (average depending on the test I am taking) and did very well at uni etc.
I think the link may be that more intelligent people over analyse too much, expect more of themselves and get more stressed when they fail because they feel they shouldn’t. As well as this they may be more knowledgeable of the worlds problems politically/economically etc. and that may get them worried or down.
However my anxiety came from experiences which have nothing to do with my normal life, so I wouldn’t stake my life on this being true.
As they say, ignorance is bliss….
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March 29th, 2010 at 7:09 am
I dont know the real scientific truth buttttt I have always thought this, I am what you would call mentally ill, I was anorexic, now im bulimic, I get deppressed and I cut.. but I dont act crazy around people or anything,, anyway, I have a twin sister who is mentally stable, she is happy, healthy weight, doesnt stress… I have always been more intelligent than her (I am not big headed believe me) but I got A*’s at gcse and A’s at a level, im good at math and learning etc she didnt do as well… she is more niave and doesn’t worry whereas I over analyse everything.. so i think it can be true in some circumstances
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March 29th, 2010 at 7:57 am
Mental illness of all types can affect those of any IQ. Overall however it is commoner in those of low IQ rather than high.
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GP for more years than I care to remember