Help How do I get people to accept I'm dumb?

[Pallf]

As the title says. I've always been slow when learning useful subjects, can't concentrate on my work, and I'm terrified of tests, yet I'm called smart. I've seen my GPA and it's something like 0.685. I shouldn't even be enrolled in college right now. It's ridiculous to believe I'll do anything in life if I can't do anything useful and I'm too chickenshit when it comes to stress.

 

[Vegrau]

Why not give it a try after all youre already there. If you want to die at least enjoy this world as much as you can before it rot away.

 

[hunter_lewis]

As the title says. I've always been slow when learning useful subjects, can't concentrate on my work, and I'm terrified of tests, yet I'm called smart. I've seen my GPA and it's something like 0.685. I shouldn't even be enrolled in college right now. It's ridiculous to believe I'll do anything in life if I can't do anything useful and I'm too chickenshit when it comes to stress.

Maybe your problem is not low intelligence but low motivation? Have you ever been thoroughly evaluated for your learning abilites? If you are in college, you don't seem stupid to me. I would suggest getting tutoring, or going to counselling to get a grip on your low motivation if that is the cause-maybe your degree is not what you want?

 

[Nofaith]

Maybe you experience difficulties but that doesn't mean you're dumb.

Not everyone learns sitting at a desk and having information thrown at them.

We are all individuals and traditional learning, isn't going to work for everyone.

That being said, I would definitely opt for as hunter_lewis suggested, getting evaluated.

I had a friend who struggled throughout his school years, when clearly he was intelligent. With some difficulties he reached college and it turns out, he had dyslexia. In 14 years that hadn't been picked up. He was finally able to get the support he needed to excel.

Also they usually have on campus, a point of contact of someone you can talk to, if you find you are struggling.

Society likes to sell the idea of college being the best time of your life. Whilst true for some, others it can be overwhelming. Please don't feel scared about reaching out for help.

 

[Jodes]

As the title says. I've always been slow when learning useful subjects, can't concentrate on my work, and I'm terrified of tests, yet I'm called smart. I've seen my GPA and it's something like 0.685. I shouldn't even be enrolled in college right now. It's ridiculous to believe I'll do anything in life if I can't do anything useful and I'm too chickenshit when it comes to stress.

Sounds like ADHD? With learned behaviours, both easily treatable. Andcsadly vomkonlynoeftbjbtreared. You've done extremely well in that case - normally people with ADHD have impulsivity (not all) which lands them in jail (when they should have had support instead to prevent it)

And don't put down your achievements in college, most people learn on the job anyway!

 

[Final Escape]

As the title says. I've always been slow when learning useful subjects, can't concentrate on my work, and I'm terrified of tests, yet I'm called smart. I've seen my GPA and it's something like 0.685. I shouldn't even be enrolled in college right now. It's ridiculous to believe I'll do anything in life if I can't do anything useful and I'm too chickenshit when it comes to stress.

You probably have slow cognitive tempo but u are smart. This can make you appear dumb when u really aren't. You just have slow processing speed. ADD meds help improve this at least in the short term but don't do it. I don't think it's worth the damage that the ADD meds can do. It's risky to get on the meds is all I'm saying.

 

[Armadillo]

Are you really sure you are, like you say, "dumb", and that the best thing for you is that people just accept that fact and change the expectations and feelings they have towards you?

If you just feel like you are not very bright, and maybe that's a feeling your life experiences might be confirming... I am not saying you are wrong but don't jump to conclusions too fast.
Things like depression, anxiety, low-self esteem and learning disabilities can highly influence your school performance.
I'd suggest to get your cognitive abilities checked (even an IQ test is a good start) and your mental problems too.

Like someone else said it might just be ADD/ADHD, in that case I highly suggest drugs like amphetamines (Adderall, Dexedrine etc.) or methylphenidate. They work wonders for a lot of people. You take one pill and see if you can concentrate and be more productive, you don't have to wait week/months like with antidepressants.

 

[Final Escape]

Are you really sure you are, like you say, "dumb", and that the best thing for you is that people just accept that fact and change the expectations and feelings they have towards you?

If you just feel like you are not very bright, and maybe that's a feeling your life experiences might be confirming... I am not saying you are wrong but don't jump to conclusions too fast.
Things like depression, anxiety, low-self esteem and learning disabilities can highly influence your school performance.
I'd suggest to get your cognitive abilities checked (even an IQ test is a good start) and your mental problems too.

Like someone else said it might just be ADD/ADHD, in that case I highly suggest drugs like amphetamines (Adderall, Dexedrine etc.) or methylphenidate. They work wonders for a lot of people. You take one pill and see if you can concentrate and be more productive, you don't have to wait week/months like with antidepressants.

The problem with amphetamines is that they may work for a long time, but as you get older like into 30's it becomes difficult to bounce back from the side effects and believe me there are serious side effects. The longer you use this medication the more likely you are to be permanently dependent and if you choose to give it up, it takes many months if not like a year or more to feel ok without them. It might be better to accept your disability and find ways to cope and jobs that you are able to do with your existing limitations. Instead of trying to make your brain into something it just isn't naturally. They are also expensive and require constant trips to see the phsyc doctor because it is a real nightmare if u run out and can't get more immediately. You will also have to get on additional psych meds to deal with the side effects from adderall. You will need a pill to help u sleep because it's extremely difficult to sleep on daily stimulant medication. A mood stabilizer to deal with the messed up moods lol! I'm not kidding, this was what happened to me on stimulant meds.

 

[Nofaith]

The problem with amphetamines is that they may work for a long time, but as you get older like into 30's it becomes difficult to bounce back from the side effects and believe me there are serious side effects. The longer you use this medication the more likely you are to be permanently dependent and if you choose to give it up, it takes many months if not like a year or more to feel ok without them. It might be better to accept your disability and find ways to cope and jobs that you are able to do with your existing limitations. Instead of trying to make your brain into something it just isn't naturally. They are also expensive and require constant trips to see the phsyc doctor because it is a real nightmare if u run out and can't get more immediately. You will also have to get on additional psych meds to deal with the side effects from adderall. You will need a pill to help u sleep because it's extremely difficult to sleep on daily stimulant medication. A mood stabilizer to deal with the messed up moods lol! I'm not kidding, this was what happened to me on stimulant meds.

I quite agree. Medication should be a last resort and if prescribed carefully monitored. There are too many doctors who are quick to write a prescription. Never taking into consideration withdrawal, side effects or long term effects.

 

[Final Escape]

I quite agree. Medication should be a last resort and if prescribed carefully monitored. There are too many doctors who are quick to write a prescription. Never taking into consideration withdrawal, side effects or long term effects.

If I could go back in time I would not have ever taken stimulant medication, because it tricks you into thinking you are way better on it but what they don't tell you about is how it hurts your relationships because it changes your personality and messes with your moods. It kills your empathy and conscience which in turn fucks with relationships. It's short term gains but long term pain.

 

[Jodes]

You probably have slow cognitive tempo but u are smart. This can make you appear dumb when u really aren't. You just have slow processing speed. ADD meds help improve this at least in the short term but don't do it. I don't think it's worth the damage that the ADD meds can do. It's risky to get on the meds is all I'm saying.

I've been told there are new, much better meds... I'm so gullible

 

[Jodes]

Are you really sure you are, like you say, "dumb", and that the best thing for you is that people just accept that fact and change the expectations and feelings they have towards you?

If you just feel like you are not very bright, and maybe that's a feeling your life experiences might be confirming... I am not saying you are wrong but don't jump to conclusions too fast.
Things like depression, anxiety, low-self esteem and learning disabilities can highly influence your school performance.
I'd suggest to get your cognitive abilities checked (even an IQ test is a good start) and your mental problems too.

Like someone else said it might just be ADD/ADHD, in that case I highly suggest drugs like amphetamines (Adderall, Dexedrine etc.) or methylphenidate. They work wonders for a lot of people. You take one pill and see if you can concentrate and be more productive, you don't have to wait week/months like with antidepressants.

I think "dumb" is a terrible label, and you've now got all using it lol! Everyone is equal, everyone can bring something, everyone suffers, everyone's unique

 

[Jen Erik]

I've seen my GPA and it's something like 0.685.

As much as the educational industry would like everyone to believe otherwise, GPAs are not necessarily an accurate measure of intelligence or how smart you might be.

 

[Xerxes]

I'm academically smart, socially dumb, average in the street. When you're motivated you can do many things, when you're not, you just don't care.

 

[Final Escape]

I think Einstein had slow processing speed too but apparently he still had the iq and succeeded despite.

 

[Final Escape]

I've been told there are new, much better meds... I'm so gullible

It's all the same, they just relabel them and tweak them but no matter what one u take it will cause damage. Your brain and body were never designed to be dependent on stimulants. I think they push stimulants in order to make people be able to tolerate shitty jobs with longer hours. If u happen to be a creative type of personality who doesn't do well in the typical boring job they want to medicate u to be like a neurotypical. Can't be the job that's the problem, the establishment wants to change u lol!

 

[Jodes]

As the title says. I've always been slow when learning useful subjects, can't concentrate on my work, and I'm terrified of tests, yet I'm called smart. I've seen my GPA and it's something like 0.685. I shouldn't even be enrolled in college right now. It's ridiculous to believe I'll do anything in life if I can't do anything useful and I'm too chickenshit when it comes to stress.

Why do you want people to think you're dumb?

 

[Armadillo]

The problem with amphetamines is that they may work for a long time, but as you get older like into 30's it becomes difficult to bounce back from the side effects and believe me there are serious side effects. The longer you use this medication the more likely you are to be permanently dependent and if you choose to give it up, it takes many months if not like a year or more to feel ok without them. It might be better to accept your disability and find ways to cope and jobs that you are able to do with your existing limitations. Instead of trying to make your brain into something it just isn't naturally. They are also expensive and require constant trips to see the phsyc doctor because it is a real nightmare if u run out and can't get more immediately. You will also have to get on additional psych meds to deal with the side effects from adderall. You will need a pill to help u sleep because it's extremely difficult to sleep on daily stimulant medication. A mood stabilizer to deal with the messed up moods lol! I'm not kidding, this was what happened to me on stimulant meds.

But this is just your experience. You can react really well on dopaminergic stimulants or they can mess you up, it depends on the person.
If you take 100 kids with ADD/ADHD and give them amphetamines after 10 years their quality of life will be better than another group of 100 kids with the same condition that went unmedicated (this doesn't imply that drugs are the only treatment, but for some people are really lifesavers).
Same with antidepressants. Just because SSRIs/SNRIs and other classes of antidepressants didn't do shit for me I wouldn't tell a severly depressed person not to get on them. Those are drugs that for those who have the condition they are supposed to treat usually make more good than harm.
I've been through multiple benzo whitdrawals too, but I don't condemn the use of that class of drugs. If someone needs Xanax not to get a panic attack as soon as he walks out of the house, that's okay. Again meds should not be the only treatment but they are a big part of it.

Accepting the disability and living with it could not be an option for some people. And even if someone does that, that doesn't necessarly mean that that's a better choiche than get medical treatment.