I took the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale III, it actually accounts for processing speed, which I think LaV-Man is referring to as "smart", and this weighs on the final composite score. I've been trying to grow to overcome learning obstacles that have kept me from finishing a degree and at this point I'm working on improving my memory, learning strategies such as clumping, to hopefully improve my processing speed.

I've had depression since I was in junior high, but I've been seeing someone for that this past year and I think I'm actually making good progress now; such emotional problems can influence IQ scores as well. I took the WAIS III back in 2003 in hopes of finding help about my attention problems, my highest component score was 138 for Verbal Comprehension Index, on the Perceptual Index I was 130 and my processing speed was 99 and my working memory was 94; very average on the last two, but frustrating that it pulls my composite score down to 123. Again, I hope to change that. I'd like to join Mensa for some of the recognition I lack without a degree and for perhaps some social activities. I've never been married and while I'm a bit picky, I know that being in the same range of intelligence is important to me.

I'd say, work on improving your self-esteem. Things I've done have been to lower my expectations of life and what I'm able to do within reason and this has relieved tension resulting from failures I've experienced; embrace the little joys that are available to you. It's taken years, but I've gotten control of my sleep more, I use a CPAP for my sleep apnea and it's done wonders. I've never eaten very healthfully, but I found a fantastic vitamin and mineral supplement that is made entirely from food matter, rather than synthetics and I am positive that it has very helpful results for me. I'm more alert than ever and it makes all the difference in the world. I'm on meds which are a nice buffer against really deep valleys of emotion and allow me to bounce back quicker and like I said, I've found a good therapist...which you won't necessarily find right away. Unfortunately it takes time and money to talk to a few people before you find one that really works well with you. I'm finally feeling much better about life, so good I don't recall a time I felt so clear, not since I was a small child (childhood for me was great, before jr. high)