Is Anxiety A Smart Idea?

The tortured wunderkind with broody brow is a look. From mad-scientist depictions in movies, to everyday encounters in clinical psych waiting rooms, high stress and high IQ seem to travel together. Is worry the exclusive privilege of genius, or can the cognitively compromised stake their fair claim to a full-blown generalised anxiety disorder?

Research shows a link between intelligence and mental disease, including anxiety. The research is not conclusive, and shows a correlation, at best, rather than a causal relationship. Quick thinkers need to ensure that their high cognitive performance does not contribute to the stresses that feed anxiety.

We’ll consider what gives rise to the present worry over anxiety and look at ways to avoid being stressed for success.

Does Research Link Intelligence and Anxiety?

A study published in Frontiers in Evolutionary Neuroscience considered the link between intelligence and worry in two groups: a group of people diagnosed with a Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and a second group of healthy patients. In both groups a significant correlation was established. But with a twist.

The first group showed a positive correlation, and the second a negative correlation. This suggests that generally, the competencies that come with intelligence are used to manage stress levels downward. But in subjects with a clinical tendency to anxiety (in this case GED), those same devices may ramp up the levels of stress.

Why Should There Be a Link Between Anxiety and Intelligence?

Research by Tsachi Ein-Dor and Orgad Tal shed light on the functional significance of anxiety: People who worry more are better able to sense threats and respond to changes in the environment. But these are cognitive acuities, and likely to sit alongside other behaviours that lead to superior overall cognitive performance.

Problems arise when the sensitivity at issue goes into overdrive, converting alertness to anxiety.

Could We Be Mistaken?

While the research showing a link comes from several sources, it may yet be early to draw a clear conclusion. Some reasons for reservation include:

• The studies in question have generally had small sample sizes, from which decisive conclusions cannot be sustained.
• In some instances, self-report was used as a basis of measurement. Specifically, the Penn State Worry Index – a questionnaire – was used to determine how anxious respondents are. Self-report is not a generally reliable measure.
• Intelligent people may be likelier to report their anxiety (and mental health niggles generally), leading to a clinical mirage – the illusion that smart people are a disproportionately high percentage of the anxious population.

I’m a Genius – What Now?

While the correlation does nothing to guarantee a stressful life for the intelligent, it is important to look for signs that you’re stressing too much. Reliable indicators usually come from people close to you, with their bird’s eye on your behaviour.

Since anxiety has a spiralling effect over the long term, it is worth acting on early signs. Putting a long-term management plan in place, with the help of a clinician, is preferable to self-medication, which has collateral effects, and may not address the operant condition.

I’m Ultra-Laidback – Should I Worry About It?

Apathy – the opposite of anxiety – is not a healthy state to revert to. In seeking a healthy middle ground, be sure that you’re aware of relevant potential stress events, without being unduly rattled by them.

None of the research is intended to suggest that low anxiety is a sign of stupidity. (Not a worrying sign, anyway). Following the Frontiers study, low stress levels may be a sign of intelligent management of daily stressors. Following a consistent management of stress is the smart way to improved quality of mental life.