mental illness and Intelligence

I firmly believe in a connection between intelligence and mental illness. "Ignorance is bliss" comes to mind here. However, I think -- and this is strictly an unfounded hypothesis that simply makes sense to me -- the link depends on the illness.

For example, some mental disease is biological, genetic, chemical/hormonal, etc., whereas others can be brought on by a traumatic life event. The latter is, in my experience, strongly linked to intelligence. I am intelligent. I am also extremely sensitive. I have always had a slight chemical imbalance that, over the years, I chose to treat with behavior-modification therapy (i.e., no pills -- not that there's anything wrong with pills!). But several traumatic life events during my 20s kicked all my issues well beyond overdrive and I was forced to re-think things.

Every time something would happen, I was stunned by the lack of devastation to everyone else. There would only be a handful, if that many, who seemed to be as much of a mess as I was which, of course, got me thinking. And I came to the conclusion that it's not that the dumb ones don't care, but it's as if their mind can only malfunction (for lack of a better term) to a certain degree before, I don't know, I seriously think that some pain is just beyond the level of comprehension in a mind that isn't highly developed, cognitively speaking. That, or I'm just making it all up because I'm totally bitter that I hurt so much sometimes and everyone else seems so functional....

By the way, I'm currently under the care of two doctors and a 3-drug cocktail I take daily upon waking. I am fully in support of pills. And contrary to what some people believe, they don't make me "happy," nor do they Zombi-tize me as my mother would always caution (she was a behavioral therapist; go figure). I'm still the same sensitive, high-maintenance, goofy, quirky, and somewhat odd person I always was with good days and bad days. I still cry (too much in my opinion) and laugh and feel highs and lows and all emotions in between. Actually, I could go for a couple days of Zombie here and there but so far that hasn't been an option. What has changed is that when i open my eyes in the morning, I get out of bed and go about my day. I no longer wake up sobbing uncontrollably and wondering what kind of God wouldn't have had enough pity on me to just let me die in my sleep.... If you wake to the latter, please go talk to someone. No one can fix it but they can make it so it's not so crushing, I promise.

Love[/i]

Lol. I only shared the Narcissism thing so I could give an example towards this topic, and I also have a variety of mental disorders unfortunately. But the thing is I Know of these disorders, and I am able to conspire ways to prevent them from controlling my life, too much.

I am also an uncontrollable thinker, and I think obsessively. Which means I Never stop thinking, because I can't, and since I can't stop thinking I might as well use it to my benefit. Therefore I learn from what I think about constantly. And I think about stuff like this all the time, because I have an extreme passion for the Human Mind and its many functions and defects.

But even with the combination of disorders I have, it doesn't necessarily mean I am a psycho . It mostly comes from the type of childhood I had and Yes, your childhood experiences Do have an affect on your later life. I also have a Very advanced level of Emotional Intelligence, and social ability's;; And I also have pretty developed and natural strengths in all 7 to 9 Intelligence types. And I honestly don't mean to brag.. I figure stuff like this out everyday amazingly. And I take Thinking and Intellect quite seriously.

The reason I'm even sharing my personal stuff with you is so maybe it will give you some answers from someone who actually experiences this type of scenario. And I don't know if it makes a difference if I am 15 either, but I think it's strange I am into this sotrve thing at my age. Very rare.

But I do lots of research on topics like this and I find many of the answers or clues I'm looking for. Though I can't openly show what I know because people would think I am crazy or something until they let me explain it right. Because I do not like to spread around false information and prefer not to speak of a subject unless I know for sure of what I am talking about.

Excuse me for getting off topic, as I desire Conversation Haha..

I must say that you are most impressive for only being 15...I had no idea...I thought you were someone in your mid twenties I suppose.

Anyway I do understand your obsession for research and being able to uncover the clues and answers you are after...because you simply know what it is exactly you are looking for but just want the proof there for your own peace of mind as well as for providing it...should you ever decide to discuss it at some point in your life. I can understand and if it is something you enjoy doing...do it...you will uncover many things that people have overlooked or never thought about. YOU can resolve so many issues facing the world today...so I do not think you are crazy at all...I think you are splendid for doing what you are doing as long as you are doing it for the good of humanity...which I know you will.

And everything you just said is absolutely correct!!! Another reason I have this desire is because I really do want to use it for the benefit of humanity. I want the Truth to be known, and I want people to have that motivation to want to know the truth. Because I really don't accept what everything is coming to. What I mean is that society pretty much listens to what they hear, which are sometimes false theorys. And when someone is given a straightforward answer they do not have to search for it themselves, saving them time, and they Think they have the right answer.


But this is way off topic. Though I like to discuss topics in very deep detail, if anyone wants to be apart of it with me then please message me or something. I love conversation.

Totem101 wrote:It seems like that to me, judging from this forum, everyone talks with a well developed vocabulary and grammar. How did that one saying go? Was it "Genius and madness are two sides to the same coin." or it's something close to that.

I think it's "There's a mineline between genious and madness."

EXP101 wrote:As far as intelligence being related to mental illness...what a crock in my opinion. You can be extremely happy and be extremely intelligent at the same time without having any kind of illness.

I don't think that's necessarily the point..
I think what's meant is that - People diagnosed with depression tend to have higher intelligence, not that EVERYONE who is clever is sad. xD

Anyway. You're 15 o;
ME TOO!
*high five*
lmfao x

I know of more than a few ppl who have an IQ above 140 and they imo tend to be slightly Aspergers.

What is mental illness? I dont know .. isn't it just a different way of thinking? Perception? I guess if you see things differently to a lot of people that might make you depressed ..periodically at least

Well I crave conversation!!! Someone should start one with me. I like to talk about stuff!!! Well. Do that, Lol..

I think there are a number of factors at work:

1. Intelligent people are not going to buy into platitudes that less intelligent people will

2. Intelligent people have intellectual needs that are beyond that which societal structures provide

3. Higher processing power and greater creativity make for more complex psychology

4. Intelligent people end up with responsibilities that are on average more stressful

5. Intelligent people are more aware of the big picture and it is not all that pretty and it is clear that life is random/chaotic in many ways

6. Intelligent people understand people and their behavior better and human behavior is often quite disappointing

7. People in general are jealous of intelligent people and often band against them to even the playing field

8. Intelligent people have a smaller number of people who they can relate to

9. Much stress can be relieved by 'being in the moment', since 'the moment' requires much less of their processing power intelligent people spend much less time 'in the moment'

10. Intelligent people are misunderstood by most people