[Open Eyes]

Why lots of psychologists say anxiety is a sign of intelligence - Business Insider

I saw this article and thought that members who struggle with anxiety challenges would appreciate it. Maybe your problem is you are very smart.

[Deejay14]

Could be a genius!

[-jimi-]

I'm not especially bright but I lack normal filters that are there to protect you and make you feel safe even if it is a big fat lie. When I was a very, very young kid I heard things about space, war, death, illness, nuclear bombs, you name it. Most kids just thought of it a while and brushed it off and went on playing. I remember looking at the children in the sandbox thinking "Everyone of you will be dead some day, and you just play". I had no shields and no shelter. Everything got to me, I knew no one was safe.

So no, don't think you really have to be smart. Even low functioning (less than normal IQ) autistics often have intense fears and chronic anxiety.

Thank you so much for posting that article!
It was very interesting.

I know that kind of thinking.
My autistic son has So much anxiety!

[LucyG]

I think it's a mistake to think this is something to be proud of. Anxiety has physiological basic and should be treated as such.

Here's a good book on treating anxiety naturally using amino acids and other nutrients.

The Anxiety Epidemic by Bille Sahley, PhD-painstress

[Unrigged64072835]

While I do believe I'm smart, and others have told me that I'm smart, I find that the anxiety keeps me from reaching my full potential. Thanks for sharing the article.

[StarGazingFish]

i disagree to them,i have moderate classic autism with mild intellectual disability and have been educated with and lived with so many people with much worse intellectual disability,there was plenty of anxiety amongst us all,for example my best mate who has severe intellectual disability has constant anxiety about his wife and his cat.
i know the article will cheer up a lot of people but i also hate how people with intellectual disability are portrayed as not being human and not feeling the same feelings as everyone else.
i have severe anxiety that triggers severe challenging behavior and im on a lot of meds for it.

[JayKite]

Anxiety is the complete awareness of fear to the point our creativity and imagination creates delusions.

Therefore our intelligence becomes the detachment from reality itself. But I'd rather be intelligent enough to detach myself from delusions.

[ScientiaOmnisEst]

Originally Posted by -jimi-

I'm not especially bright but I lack normal filters that are there to protect you and make you feel safe even if it is a big fat lie. When I was a very, very young kid I heard things about space, war, death, illness, nuclear bombs, you name it. Most kids just thought of it a while and brushed it off and went on playing. I remember looking at the children in the sandbox thinking "Everyone of you will be dead some day, and you just play". I had no shields and no shelter. Everything got to me, I knew no one was safe.

So no, don't think you really have to be smart. Even low functioning (less than normal IQ) autistics often have intense fears and chronic anxiety.

Don't you have Asperger's? Doesn't that mean you're a genius or at least above average by definition?

And looking down on your classmates for their existential ignorance sounds like classic intellect to me!