My mom affectionately referred to them as “worry warts,” and it quickly became our endearing label for the relentless anxiety that seemed to plague us both. The kind of anxiety that had me convinced that a tiny bump on my wrist was a rare tumor threatening to end my adolescence prematurely. Or that a minor scratch from our cat might escalate into a severe case of cat scratch fever. And let’s not forget those moments when a friend was late; I’d immediately picture them in a catastrophic car accident instead of just getting stuck in traffic.
Yes, I’m that person who anticipates disaster at every turn, who doubles back home to check if the stove is off, and who still hesitates to take aspirin due to fears of Reye’s syndrome—even though that risk has long passed. I find myself checking my pulse, wondering if I could be on the brink of a heart condition. To top it off, when my kids were infants, I even used a wrist strap to tether myself to their stroller. You read that correctly—I was literally connected to their safety. Clearly, I’m not quite alright.
However, there might be a silver lining to my incessant worry: it appears that individuals like me could be more intelligent than those blissfully unaware of the perils around them. A study published by Slate highlighted research from Lakehead University in Ontario, indicating that students with heightened anxiety levels performed better on verbal intelligence tests. Moreover, research from SUNY Downstate Medical Center revealed that individuals with severe generalized anxiety disorder had higher IQs than those with milder symptoms.
The relationship between anxiety and intelligence is a bit of a chicken-or-the-egg scenario. Does anxiety lead to intelligence, or does intelligence trigger anxiety? Could it be that constant worrying makes us more observant and engaged, resulting in better learning? Or is it that our brilliant thoughts cause our minds to race, leading to anxiety? Personally, I’m leaning towards the latter.
With this newfound understanding, I feel a little less ashamed about the times I bombarded my partner with messages when I didn’t hear from him or panicked over an oddly protruding rib—which resulted in an unnecessary doctor’s visit. My brain is simply wired to operate on overdrive. So, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to dive back into my book, Remembrance of Things Past, before I head out to check on my kids at recess to ensure they’re not being bullied. But first, let me just check my pulse one more time.
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In conclusion, while anxiety can feel overwhelming, it may also be linked to higher intelligence. Embracing this perspective might just help lighten the burden of our worries.
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