Do people think you're retarded?

gsmax5

Well-known member
I always feel like people think I'm retarded/autistic when I perform miserably in certain social situations. It's really the worst feeling.

For example, when I was in the 8th grade, my teacher told one of my friends (who also happened to be her favorite) that *myname* and "Allen" (a seriously mentally ill kid, not like a mild mental disorder like SP) were a little bit *more difficult* to cooperate; the three of us were in a group and were assigned to make paper airplanes, he wanted to make it one way, and I wanted to make it another way so he told the teacher we couldn't agree a design. That was really the first time I ever proposed an alternative to the proposition of someone else in a group project, and this incident made sure it would be the last.

*Sorry for the previous paragraph, I know it's a literary failure*

At that time my Social Phobia was even worse, and my teacher thought I was a savant (one of those people who are smart as a result of a mental deficiency in another area).

She talked to me like a baby and I really hated it.




Anyway, I could go on all day with more details, have you ever had an experience where you felt like because of your poor social performance that people might think you have mental problems (when you really don't, other than SP)??

My biggest fear is that I could end up being (or even being perceived as) a mentally ill person.
 
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Perfidion

Well-known member
Not really. When I do say something it's usually at least vaguely clever/sarcastic/interesting, it's just that I don't say a whole lot. I'd say people think I'm odd rather than retarded, which is preferable obviously. What really annoys me is when I get the feeling they feel sorry for me. I want understanding and acceptance, not pity.
 

dottie

Well-known member
gsmax5, yes. my brother's friend got me a job once. after i quit, my brother told me his friend said everyone there thought i was slow. he meant it in all seriousness, wasn't joking.

i get "she must be retarded"/pity vibes from coworkers and other people i interact with all the time. basically i AM scared shitless to be there but i HAVE to be there- i have no choice. i have to work. i am so socially inept and just barely cope. it is all very plain to see and quite humiliating.

i can look normal from afar, if i'm just walking around in the grocery store or something. once you start talking to me beyond, "hi, how are you," it's obvious my social skills are handicapped. i can never get far past that point- this is when my terrible awkwardness becomes apparent.
 

SilentType

Banned
I've had experiences like this... People who say you're retarded are just ignorant. All they know is that you're different, so they label you with the first thing that comes into their head (slow, retarded, etc.).

Society in general needs to be educated about these disorders. The fact that this thread even exists proves that much. As a whole, people with anxiety disorders have above average IQ. Mentally retarded people are incredibly below average IQ levels. It just shows how a lot of "normals" tend to judge people before getting to know them. It's no wonder life seems so difficult for people like us...


Peace
 

madmike

Well-known member
Yeah, i feel like this all the time. I used to really torture myself over it and couldn't accept that maybe i am a little bit 'slow'. It's better now though, it doesn't bother me as much. Most people think i'm thick and a little bit weird, but i'm not letting it get me down, just trying to be my best self... hope you find a solution too :)
 

recluse

Well-known member
I do feel retarded at times. I get days like today where i can't converse with anyone because i just am unable to form words into sentences, today i feel depressed and when i try to say something it doesn't come out smoothly you know like ''How.Are.You?'' with a pause between words.
 

chickenmaryjane

Well-known member
Yes, I noticed that people don't look directly into your eyes, if they think your retarded. Even my own family think i'm a retard!
 

lettypagb

Well-known member
He'll yeah , sometimes I talk like , how.are.you? A girl once told me I look retarded , but she said like : you're ugly , not like , you look retarded ,retarded , but maybe was really that what she wanted to say.
 

jlr1133

Member
Yeah, I hear people in public call me that behind my back and they don't even know me...I want to know why, I'm not retarded.
 

eternalnewb

Well-known member
I think that people probably wonder if something is wrong with me sometimes, but when they find out that I actually work with people with disabilities that seems to convince them that mentally I'm alright. I'm sure they still think I'm a little strange, which I am so thats okay.
I think that working with kids and teens with disabilities including those with Autism, Aspergers, Down syndrome has given me better insight into how society views those who are different. As much as people might think that I'm an odd, these kids face much worse on a daily basis. I take a group of students into the community to teach lifeskills and the way that some people respond shows me that we still have a long way to go to being an inclusive society.
 
Yeaaaah.... but can you really blame them?

I'm quiet most of the time... act strange sometimes.... etc etc :p

Of course only retards would regard such behavior as "retarded"... Oops did I say that? Sorry :x
 

nicole1

Well-known member
I make people uncomfortable because they see I'm uncomfortable. They think I'm weird. Retarted is harsh...I hope they don't because I'm likely smarter than most of them...
 

Sinar_Matahari

Well-known member
Sometimes people put too much emphasis on the talking part with no regard for substance.

I wonder if people assume that a person who isn't talking must also not be thinking.
 

JamesSmith

Well-known member
Yeah, the assumptions seem to be people's favorite thing to do when they don't know you. I had some frat boys calling me retarded to my face the first night I met them, and that was also the last night I met them because I didn't exactly want to be friends with guys that think i'm retarded. A co-worker called me retarded b4 to my face too. It just comes with the SAD, it's something we all have to deal with, I believe. There are people that assume we are stupid. That's their loss for not taking the time to get to know us, they are missing out on a good guy in my case.
 
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