Bipolar Support Group

Sometimes I get very angry with people because of their lack of common sense or their lack of intelligence. And interestingly enough, I score normal on a IQ test but why do I always feel smarter than most? Is it because of my BP or is it because there are a lot of dumbshit's out there?

A nurse once told me that she's never met a person with BP who wasn't intelligent. I met her in a mental ward and she also said people with BP are some of the most interesting people. How do you feel about this?

I really think there are exceptions. I was an outstanding student and excelled in my job. I have a very good knowledge of classical music (and other types) and am comfortable in art museums. I used to be very witty, but that is not the case now. Numerous serious episodes and perhaps the ECT seemed to change me. Pre-meds I'd agree with your theory. Now, not so much. Plus, I've met some people in my bipolar support groups that don't exactly seem like rocket scientists either.

I excelled throughout highs school and college in spite of drug abuse and alcoholism, but now I'm not so on top of things and I think it's medications. It's especially bad when I take Topomax, which I stop every so often to give my brain a break so I don't stay stupid. I don't think I'd score above normal on an IQ test, however, probably never would have. I just studied hard and applied myself.

I still have a lot of my ability to be above the avg person's intelligence but I'd rather play the fool so I know exactly where they are coming from socially, economicaly and culturally.

I think I just see things differently. When my emotions and irritability aren't in the way it feels like I see things different and faster than other people. And then have to explain to them how I got there. This doesn't work for everything, I'm having a hell of a time trying to put music on my MP3 player, but I find it happening a lot.

Are you kidding me? We're WICKED smart!!!

I have to agree with Rand.

Well there are different kinds of smarts. There is book smarts and there is money smarts and there is people smarts and on and on. There is also smarts in certain fields of interest. Did you all know that Einstein and Edison were considered unteachable? They were so far advanced in their fields of interest that their teachers couldn't relate to them. So once again, different types of smarts.

I am usually smart when it comes to philosophy, not all philosophies, just kind of common sense in my opinion. I don't like all of the terminology the books use, i see no reason for it. I am just a plain down to earth kind of gal, with a very big heart.

I believed that genetics determined your predisposition and environment influenced you long before any researchers started saying that. It just seemed to make sense to me. At one time i wanted to be a nuero scientist, but i couldn't get past the terminology.

I think studies about how the brain works are so fascinating.

Also, my daughter was asked by her ALJ when she applied for disability to take an intelligence test. Her lawyer said just do your best, they know that many mentally ill people are very intelligent.

I've had my IQ tested a couple of times and it has always come back above average, but bipolar is not my only issue. Throw in OCD hoarding (can't find anything!) and ADD (been a college student for 7 years - no degrees!) and heck, why not mention the sleep apnea (falling asleep in class and while driving!). So, according to the tests I'm "smart", but I don't really have too much to show for it. And all of my aptitude tests have always come back with a gigantic disparity between my math and verbal skills (verbal being often in the 99th percentile and math average and below) - and that has always left the docs puzzled by my brain. I'm pretty sure I often lack some common sense, though.

i'm of the opinion people are just morons lol but then again i go from days where i amaze myself with some of the crap i can figure out to days where i couldn't read dr. seuss if i tried. i'm learning this could be partially another condition i'm getting diagnosed with though. my husband laughs because i'm like a container of useless knowledge. him and my grandma get ticked because i can remember just about everything i see on t.v. and regularly ruin what they are watching. i'll walk into the room and blurt out "oh! this is the one where..." but don't ask me where i put my glasses 3 months ago...those are still missing!