My mom used to call them “free-floaters,” and it became our quirky little nickname for that relentless worrying that seems to follow us around like a shadow. You know, the kind that makes you believe that the tiny bump on your wrist is a life-threatening tumor ready to strike down unsuspecting 13-year-olds in their prime. Or that every little scratch from the cat is a potential case of cat scratch fever. And let’s not even talk about the panic that sets in when someone is late—surely they’ve been involved in a fiery car crash rather than just caught in traffic, right?
Yes, I’m one of those people who anticipates doom at every turn. I’ve been known to drive all the way back home just to check if I left the toaster on, and I still won’t take aspirin because of the lingering fear of Reye’s syndrome (despite being well past that childhood risk). I even check my pulse like a hypochondriac detective, wondering if I might be on the verge of a heart arrhythmia or something equally dramatic. When my kids were little, I took stroller safety to the next level by literally tethering myself to it. I’m not exactly winning any wellness awards here.
But, guess what? It turns out my anxious tendencies might actually point to some hidden genius.
According to an article I stumbled upon on Slate, recent studies suggest that individuals with anxiety, like yours truly, might be more intelligent than those who go about their day blissfully unaware of the potential for calamity. For instance, a study from Lakehead University in Ontario found that students with higher anxiety levels scored better on verbal intelligence tests. Another research project from SUNY Downstate Medical Center noted that people with severe generalized anxiety disorder tend to have higher IQs than those with milder symptoms.
So, what’s behind this curious connection between anxiety and intelligence? It’s like a chicken-or-the-egg dilemma: Does intelligence lead to anxiety, or does anxiety foster intelligence? Maybe constant worrying makes us more observant and alert, which in turn helps us learn better and appear smarter. Or perhaps all those frenetic thoughts swirling around in my brain are what keep me anxious. I’m leaning toward option two!
Either way, I feel a little lighter about the countless times I bombarded my husband with texts after an hour without hearing from him or rushed to my doctor for an emergency check-up on a weirdly protruding rib. It seems my overactive brain can’t be muted. So, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to dive back into Remembrance of Things Past before I sneak a peek at my kids during recess to ensure they aren’t being bullied. Just let me check my pulse one more time.
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Summary
In this lighthearted reflection, Jamie Parker shares her experiences with anxiety and how it intertwines with intelligence. She humorously notes the irrational fears that come with her nature and discusses studies that suggest a correlation between higher anxiety levels and increased intelligence. Ultimately, she embraces her quirks and finds comfort in the idea that her worries might hint at a hidden brilliance.