Anxiety is defined as “a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.” And unfortunately, for us millennials, our generation is known as the “anxious generation.”” In fact, 19% of millennials suffer from depression and anxiety. Pretty steep statistic there, huh?
There are plenty of articles bashing on us millennials saying we’re too “delicate.” But in actuality, our stress and anxiety may stem from the fact that we’re the first generation to grow up with the Internet, technology, and, well, social media.
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Anxiety is often times linked to unproductivity, however, this may not be the case anymore. According to a video done by New York Magazine, anxiety is now being linked to intelligence. In fact, a 2014 study done in Canada found a direct correlation between verbal intelligence and anxiety. In addition to this, a 2012 study found that people who are diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder have higher IQ’s. But, why?
According to New York Magazine, there are three possible explanations.
Psychological Explanation
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People that are more verbally intelligent can be tormented by their own memory for detail. Because of this, they have a tendency to go over past events multiple times, while also thinking about future calamity’s ahead. This, in turn, makes their brains more active.
Neurological Explanation
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White matter is the part of the brain that consists of bundles of myelinated nerve cells that connect to the rest of your brain (the grey matter) via various nerve impulses being sent between neurons. So, in English, the white matter is what allows for connectivity of neurons. Turns out, people who are more anxious tend to have more white matter, which can speed up people’s mental processes.
Evolutionary Explanation
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Being anxious can make you more likely to form plans that will help you in worst case scenarios, thus making you more prepared for what may come.
So, there you have it. You can stop worrying about how you worry too much. If you’re an anxious person, you’re most likely also very intelligent and more prepared for worst case scenarios. I guess being anxious can be seen as a gift and a curse.