Just an observation....

You know, after reading most of these posts I've really come to realize how incredibly intelligent most people with depression and anxiety and other illnesses are. I considerable myself to be a fairly intelligent person and I've really noticed the writing skills, vocabulary, and eloquence with which most of you write. I am very impressed. But aside from that it raises an interesting question. Are people who are more intelligent and thoughtful more likely to develop mental illness? Are we who are sensitive, analytical, and creative more apt to develop anxiety and depression? Going by my intuition I would say yes. I remember growing up and always being more mature, thoughtful, and generally kinder than most other people my age. This was in 4th, 5th, 6th grade range. I think maybe some of us are more vulnerable to depression and anxiety because we think a bit more than we should. It seems like instead of directing our creative energy and intelligence to positive activities we torture ourselves, think of ways to defeat ourselves, and generally put ourselves down on a regular basis. I think it takes quite complex thinking to dig yourself into a deep hole and I'm just guessing that the more capable somebody is of thinking on a deeper level and analyzing the world the more at risk they are for sinking into a depression. Of course there are exceptions....but look at all of the philosophers and writers who either went crazy or killed themselves! There seems to be some sort of link between the two. Tell me what you think! I don't mean to toot my own horn!

I really agree w/ you. I've heard this type of thinking from many others before and it really makes sense...as well as hits home.

Statistics show mental illness crosses all demographics, from low IQ to High IQ.

I don't disagree w/ that. But I still think it's an interesting thought that Jimbo presented to. It's never cut and dry...there's no cookie cutter mold those w/ mental illness all fit into.

You all make very good points. But just to clarify...I wasn't attempting to say that only intelligent, creative, mindful people develop depression and anxiety. In fact I believe many people are just genetically disposed to develop it at some point in their lives and it just takes a certain event to trigger it. This obviously crosses all socio-economic, racial, and gender barriers. But I think amongst the population who do not have a genetical predisposition and who do not have any definitive event that causes them to sink into depression or develop anxiety, I think it is amongst this group that many people who are thoughtful and sensitive are more at risk. Or it could be that depression and
other mental illnesses actually serve as a catalyst for a person to write. I've had many friends tell me that they write their best when they're depressed and if they are happy and content they don't write as well. Of course this differs for everyone. But yes, I agree there is no cookie-cutter mold for those who develop mental illness but it does seem that for those people where there is no explanation for depression/anxiety it might be that they were more apt than most to respond in a sensitive and thoughtful (maybe too thoughtful) manner to the more tragic side of life.