I believe it is true to an extent. In my experience, some of my friends would bring this subject up and conclude that this applies to them. Usually, I am annoyed when they do that; however, this article had me consider the situations my friends find themselves in their lives.
My friends who do have varying (yet still considered above the norm) degrees of intelligence have difficulty communicating and handling problems, especially ones with people. Although it doesn't seem like a big issue to others and myself included, these issues cause them great distress. Sometimes that distress overwhelms them to the point where they despair and bury that shame of failure within their hearts. Other times they give up and become a hermit.
The reason I do not like hearing that intelligence and unhappiness have a correlation is because for me it appears to be a doomed existence for myself. Many times I have been told I was smart by my family, friends, and teachers. I have hear this many times throughout my life, and so I try to be the smart one. I am continuing my education, enjoy solving math problems (my major, actually), and read whatever topic interests me. I don't consider those things make me intelligent. Yet, when I was told I was my whole life, I believe it more than I wish I did. I do not excel like I think a real intellect could, which makes all the difference between the ideal intellect and me.
Because I feel like I need to do the smart thing, I over plan thing or over think them. There are times when I doubt myself. I try to think of how to be always right, than accepting that failure happens. Sometimes I feel like too many people expect me to possess a lifetime of knowledge when I am only 20. No one said that to me. I just think that they do. I am a downer to myself. Yet, I thought if I can say I am not smart, I can escape this "fate." Of course, this did not help my self-esteem.
I want to say I know better now. I want to fight this so-called "fate" that this idea forces on people who are intelligent. Really, I consider this issue a barrier for the intelligent because some accept it and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. We should always remember that being content is still achievable, no matter what intellect or any other aspect a human being has. Also, we must keep in mind that people suffer for many reasons. Keeping that thought in mind when interaction with others may help keep another person from feeling isolated due to certain aspects the person has.
Thank you for sharing this article because it acknowledged the areas that many intellectual people lack in development that I have not considered, which may have contributed to their unhappiness.