Almost all of us envy over-intelligent people; We think that life is much easier for these people who can use their intelligence effectively. Did you know that the higher the intelligence level, the higher the risk of mental illness?
Many of us have academic success, being very intelligent. numerous career opportunities and therefore we believe it means more money. But can a lot of intelligence really bring happiness?
There are situations where people with high IQs who have achieved many successes in life have to cope with the same characteristics. In this article, we will solve the equation between very intelligent people and diseases such as depression and anxiety. Contrary to what we all know not simple at all We have been hearing the name of these diseases frequently lately.
Let’s take a quick look at what these two mental disorders, which are at the forefront of the psychological diseases of our age, actually mean.
Anxiety is an emotion we experience many times when things go wrong in our lives. However, in anxiety disorder, that is, anxiety; even if there is no real reason constantly feels anxious. Even with this anxious, anxious mood situations that cannot cope may come.
Depression or major depressive disorder; one’s sad mood continually to continue and losing interest in many things around him.
Existential depression, which is one of the types of depression; of the person from the search for meaning in life It is born out of the inability to find answers to the deep questions he asks about life. This is where the war of the over-intelligent people, who are our protagonists, begins at this point.
High IQ paves the way for anxiety and depression
Published in Science Direct in a scientific study; It was revealed that people with an IQ higher than 130 were more prone to psychological diseases.
This research on the susceptibility of highly intelligent people to mental disorders was conducted with 3715 members of the American Mensa. Mensa, the International Society for the Gifted and Talented; known largest and oldest It is a high IQ community.
Highly intelligent people are 2 times more likely to get mental illnesses than other people!
While walking down the street, you are less than 10% likely to encounter a person with anxiety, compared to members of the American Mensa community. at the 20% level.
Again, as a result of psychological tests conducted with American Mensa participants, the participants such as depression and bipolar in 26.7% He was found to have mental disorders. While people with such psychological diseases make up about 10% of the society, 26.7% is not an insignificant rate.
What does mental illness have to do with intelligence?
Highly intelligent people are concerned with many events and life-related events. to deep problems does not remain indifferent. In other words, besides our daily superficial problems, they grapple with different question marks.
In this adventure that started in childhood, children with high IQ even at that age; like how a person adds meaning to the world, why people say things they don’t mean, why hypocrites do it to questions we haven’t thought of they worry.
Although they want to talk to the people around them and fill in the blanks in their minds, they do not get the reactions they expect from the environment, and they often encounter strange looks. question marks unresponsive Highly intelligent people are more likely to experience existential depression over time.
As a result; people with higher IQs, who are more self-aware than other people, are at risk of developing depression and anxiety. more than other people known. Of course, this does not mean that everyone who suffers from anxiety or depression is too smart.
Sources: 1, 2