Feeling dumb

[Desert Rose]

I can't always tell if it's plain and simple paranoia or if it actually means something, but I get the feeling that people around me see me as a really dumb person, and sometimes I get the feeling I can be a bit useless. This causes me frustration, because I find that most of the time people don't see past my exterior image of being a bumbling fool that doesn't know what they're doing, and actually end up seeing what I'm capable of practically, creatively and intellectually. Is this a common thing?

[Mona79]

It is with me! I've always felt intelligent (and I know I am as I did well at school) and appeared (in my eyes) to be stupid.

[Desert Rose]

It is with me! I've always felt intelligent (and I know I am as I did well at school) and appeared (in my eyes) to be stupid.

Likewise, although I do worry occasionally that the way some people may see me could hold me back from achieving my potential, by the opportunity not being given to me etc.

[Tom fod]

But we do have the tempting option of allowing them to become lulled into a false sense of security until we disabuse them of the notion and make them look/feel dumb 8-)

[Desert Rose]

But we do have the tempting option of allowing them to become lulled into a false sense of security until we disabuse them of the notion and make them look/feel dumb 8-)

That is very true! We only need it to be the right time and place, then they can see our true colour.

The thing is whether I could muster enough confidence at the time to overcome my anxiety towards expressing myself.