I’ve noticed, the more I think and analyze a situation, the higher my levels of anxiety become. I have often told myself and others this: “I wish I was dumb”. To me, being less intelligent would mean having peace of mind, you know…”Ignorance is bliss” sort of thing. But then I think it over and then come up with even more questions like this one: “How do you categorize intelligence?”
So, to understand the correlation between high levels of anxiety and intelligence, intuition or even empathy, I must first look at each one separately. The objective is to gauge how these characteristics influence emotions and the ability to cope. Maybe there’s something there that can help bring out the best in us.
Intuition is something that I have been gifted with from an early age. You might say it came from trauma, which gave me the ability to reason and assess probability more effectively. It’s true that intuition is only making an educated guess based on past experiences, right? It could be more than that. Maybe there’s a slight bit of extra sensory perception involved, and a great deal of anxiety… possibly.
Did you know that people who are diagnosed with anxiety can predict situations 50% more frequently than those who do not have anxiety? It’s true, and so this gives a little insight on how these two relate. I remember speaking before about how being anxious wasn’t all bad and was actually a heightened “fight or flight” instinct.
Well, it’s not all bad, that’s true, but anxiety and intuition can also cause a state of alarm when nothing is even happening as well. So, basically, you take the good with the bad. But yes, there is a clear connection between high levels of anxiety and intuition.
A study at the Lakehead University in Canada proved that out of 100 students surveyed, those who exhibited higher levels of anxiety indeed had a higher I.Q. In a separate study, two psychiatrists, Tscahi Ein-Dor and Orgad Tal both reported that these students with higher I.Qs were also more alert to dangers in their surroundings. They had heightened senses of smell and hearing.
Now the downside of this, and we know there is a downside, is that intelligent people with high levels of anxiety can sometimes let this anxiety cripple them. Instead of taking action on all these analyzed scenarios in their head, they will sometimes become paralyzed and unable to act at all. No amount of intelligence can override some of the fears concocted by the anxious mind.
High levels of anxiety are common in empathy as well. The reason this rings true is that empathy means being able to feel what other people feel in such a heightened way that you find yourself wanting to “save the world”. Of course, you know you cannot save the entire world and that, in turn, makes you depressed. Being empathic carries a boat-load of responsibilities, at least that’s what you think. It’s important that you try to understand and walk in someone else’s shoes, right?
The connection between anxiety and empathy is strong because of the desire to always want to make things better. Sometimes, personally, I even try to understand how the turtle feels when it crosses the road, and even when I’m in a hurry, I will stop and help him across. If there are three turtles crossing the road in different locations, on a particular day, I will be late. Then I will worry about whether or not they wish to cross back again. sigh…
Sometimes, I just have to distract myself from such thoughts. lol
Okay, like I said before, there are good and bad sides to high levels of anxiety and the effects on your intuition, intelligence, and empathy. The bad side is losing control of your thoughts. Now, you might ask, why is it so terrible to be a little worried about things? Well, in case you didn’t know, anxiety is completely different from worry. Having high levels of anxiety contribute to many other physical and mental illnesses such as:
I was told that I worried too much when my car battery died a few days ago, and I started to make plans to buy a new one. I was also told that it was just because I left the door open and that after a while the battery would build back up and everything would be fine. So, I listened to this suggestion and felt like my anxiety was getting the best of me again.
The next day I was stranded, because why? My battery was bad! This time, I was right to use my logic to buy a new battery, but because of my anxiety track record, I listened to someone else. As you can see, having high levels of anxiety can be tricky. You have to know when to stick to your guns and when to admit that… “you worry too much.” This can be a difficult thing to do.
And no, it’s not rocket science to realize you need to purchase a battery for a car, but sometimes you will choose to ignore your intuition because of how your anxiety has caused problems in the past. There lies the biggest problem of all.
Here lies the cure…
There’s a word that wasn’t mentioned in this title, and I think it’s worthy of mentioning. The word discernment is your answer. Practicing healthy discernment is the key to conquering your doubts with high levels of anxiety in connection with intuition, intelligence, and empathy. As you grow older, you will understand when the time is right to fight or take flight…or simply do nothing at all.
Yes, it will take time, you will eventually gain a healthy insight on these things. From one anxious person to another, and to all those who love us…
Thank you for listening and learning.
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So far this is the best article I have read from you. It is funny and enlightening. However, I do have to agree with Lara. Perhaps it is that in "many" or the "majority" of cases you are right.
Stephen,
Thank you so much for reading. I am heartbroken, however, for Lara's friend. And apologize once more for generalizations. Maybe in a future writing, I can address these differences and where they come from. Basically, you have two choices in life, I face these every day. You can learn and grow from your illnesses, abuse, trauma, and neglect or you can become bitter and take it out on the entire world. I feel like this is where it splits. The lack of empathy and selfishness comes from anger and hurt that is so deep. These individuals usually feel like there is no one there to help them but themselves and they take take take in an effort to retain as much as they can.
I know this because I waver here sometimes, right before I jerk myself up and say, "okay, you're not okay, and that's fine. But there are others who need you. There are things that are so much bigger than your pain right now." I do, I have conversations with myself quite often.
Thank you and thanks to Lara for keeping me on my toes and making me want to learn more!! You guys are awesome!
I find that hugs reduce anxiety.
Sakib,
Yes, hugs reduce anxiety and so does other outlets. Sometimes even reading humorous comments reduces anxiety.
You mean stress causes growth ??? This is not a new concept. History has been trying to teach us that. Since the beginning
John,
Yes, stress causes growth and growth cause stress. It's a pattern...thus anxiety.
I was diagnosed with Anxiety 2 years ago. I developed physical symptoms from it which almost put me in really bad shape. but I have to say, it is only from that experience that I have grown spiritually, my awareness has increased. You start to put things into perspective and appreciate the simple things, and people more..
Raymond,
Yes, I agree with the things you have said. I too have anxiety, and I hate hate hate hate it!!! I have grown as well. My weaknesses still revolve around social awkwardness, but I am learning how to deal with myself and with others in a much better manner. Thank you for reading!
Wonder how these thoughts and emotions would apply to early stages of dementia or alzhiemers (or maybe even a cure). My mother , widowed for 42 years, went through some traumatic times in her life growing up and with my Dads illness.
For the most part growing up , she had a negative outlook on life based on her past, but was always caring more for others besides her self. I think she lost faith and her shadow as well. Now in early stage of dementia, she communicates very well but has lost sight of who she was, which is too good to lose. Do you know anything non-medical about living someone else's past life.(metaphysics, astrology)? Sounds a little deep but it is probaby better than listening to the pharmas of the world elite.
Mark,
I am not sure what you're asking, but I will take a stab at it. I do believe in extrasensory perception, clairaudience, clairvoyance, etc.etc. I believe that anything is possible. I have my own personal beliefs based on my intuition, which manifests in physical sensations. So, with that being said, I do believe there are ways to recover past lives, and through natural means - mostly through meditation and homeopathic means. What she needs the most is to feel comfortable. Now, mind you, I am going with how I feel, thus these are only opinions. I am 43 and have endured quite a traumatic life. I lean toward the negative and suffer from multiple mental disorders including depression. There are various things I use to ground myself, including herbal teas, lemon/cucumber/ginger water, oh, and, ginseng is great for the memory. I spend lots of time alone and when I have the worst days of depression, I watch comedies as much as possible and take naps. It's best to keep her away from drama so that she can focus on what her mind is trying to tell her. The disease makes it harder to get to these things, obviously. If you are talking about past lives as in reincarnation, then yes, I do have an open mind about that as well. Meditation can also help you realize these things if they are there as well. Pay attention to dreams and note any recurring dreams she may have. I hope some of this helps. Thank you for reading, Mark.