6. You Experience Lower Rates of General Anxiety

For years, popular culture promoted the “tortured genius” myth, suggesting that highly intelligent people are inherently more anxious and prone to distress. However, recent large-scale research paints a completely different picture. A robust 2022 study analyzing data from the UK Biobank—involving hundreds of thousands of participants—found that a high general intelligence factor actually acts as a protective shield against anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. Because you have advanced problem-solving skills, you are often better equipped to process stressors and formulate proactive solutions before anxiety takes root.