IQ and depressive disorders

Lately I have been thinking a lot about the association between perceived intelligence and depression.

We are all aware of the phrase "ignorance is bliss" and I am convinced there may be a psychological foundation in this.  If you look at famous thinkers of our time, many of them have had major psychiatric disorders.  My interest and I will do my research project on this when time comes, is whether a higher level of intelligence is going to increase the likelihood of someone developing major depression, bipolar, schizophrenia or another significant illness or whether there is correlation between the two that may have some form of causality in both directions.

I had an interesting conversation with someone suffering from Bipolar disorder just tonight where he said that through conversations he has had with other sufferers, generally they are more "switched on" and generally "smarter" than those without this disorder.

It is something I will have to look into further and I may expand on this post at a later date after I have researched it more.

The importance of social networking?

I read an editorial in the mX just the other day.  The writer was talking about how social networking can prove to be a useful tool for stress relief.  Giving the user the ability to vent their frustrations and receive a global pat on the back and well wishing.  However I feel that perhaps this level of social networking may actually work to increase our daily stress levels overall.

There may be a short release given when we vent our frustration at the public transport system, or at someone who has wronged us.  The condolences we receive from our "friends" may help us as well.  However what about all the bickering and in fighting that it has the potential to cause.  Friends have been torn apart due to status updates, relationships ended, jobs lost, groups torn apart.

I have recently attained a position in a company where we were briefed on how we must present ourselves in the social media.  They would have me disclaim that my views are mine and not those of said company.  Amongst other things there is a manner in which I must conduct myself to prevent "tarnishing" their image, or defaming a colleague at risk of law suit.  Things such as this add a new level of stress to life as now, not only do I need to worry about how my facebook reflects upon me, but I now have to think twice about repercussions that extend to more than just a shift in opinion on me.

All of this for a tiny bit of release when something goes badly.... Hardly seems like a relief any more.

This was written a little too late at night to be properly coherent and future posts will contain other questions that I feel have some bearing on life and shit like that.  Hopefully they will also be better written.