There’s apparently an upside to often being anxious, as according to studies featured on Psych Central, “there is a correlation between high intelligence and high levels of worry.”
In a survey led by psychologist Alexander Penney, more than 100 students of the Lakehead University in Ontario, Canada were asked to rate and report their levels of worry. It turned out that participants who were always anxious about something were those who had the highest scores in the given verbal intelligence test.
A separate test given to anxious and non-anxious people also revealed that those who were most likely to worry a lot had higher IQ ratings.
Interestingly, the effects of anxiety on intelligence also crosses to social awareness, as another study reports that participants who thought and worried too much were often the ones who were more sensitive to feelings of other people, and who were more attentive to the needs of those around them.
This isn’t to say that being anxious all the time is a great thing. In fact, if you feel that your anxiety is taking over your life, you should go ask for professional help. People who are both smart and anxious may have trouble fitting in due to the way they think, and may even start isolating themselves when things get worse.
The key is to find like-minded people that you can share your worries and your preferences with. When you “find your tribe,” you may just tap into that unlocked potential and turn your anxieties for the better.