Why Am I So Stupid? 8 Reasons You Feel Dumb and Useless

Are you someone who feels they are dumb and useless every time they fail to ace something? Don’t worry, you are not alone.

There are a lot of people like you who deal with this self-loathing feeling for many reasons. Some might get self-conscious while clearing their doubts in class, while some will ditch the thought of pitching an idea in company meetings.

What they forget is that their feeling of “I am dumb/ stupid/ useless” is not the reality. Not knowing everything does not make you stupid or dumb. But even after we say this, many of you won’t be convinced. Why? Because you don’t know where that inferiority is coming from.

Today, we will discuss the psychological reasons you feel dumb and useless and how to tackle them better. So keep on reading.

Reasons Why You Feel Dumb or Stupid

There can be many reasons why you might feel stupid or useless every time you try to do something. In most cases, it is related to your childhood experiences.

But here, we have mentioned some of the most common mistakes we make and end up feeling worthless.

1. Having a Negative Self-Perception

You might have heard the saying that if you keep repeating a lie, it turns into truth.

So, if you have a negative self-perception and always think lowly of yourself, soon you’ll start believing in it. Most people who feel stupid or useless already have a deep belief system that they are good for nothing.

This is why they self-criticize so much that, ultimately, they can’t give their best whenever they try to do something.

A negative self-perception is more common if you are used to comparing yourself with others or taking every little criticism too seriously.

2. Trying To Achieve Perfectionism

As incredible as it may sound, perfectionism is not something everyone should chase. Striving for perfectionism and setting too high standards for yourself can lead to a major downfall in your self-esteem.

If you keep setting the bar too high and fail to achieve that, no matter how good you are, you’ll always feel stupid and useless.

Besides, perfectionism’s biggest drawback is that you focus more on your flaws than your strengths. Which naturally makes you feel worthless.

3. Constantly Comparing Yourself to Others

For some people, relativity is necessary to have that drive to do better. Still, for the vast majority, the effects of it are negative.

You can idolize someone or take inspiration from them, but if you keep comparing yourself to others, you will jeopardize your mental peace.

There will always be someone better than you in whatever you do, so constantly comparing yourself can cause a great sense of inferiority in you. You might even get so caught up in the comparisons that you’ll start ignoring your achievements. And as a result, you’ll think of yourself as a useless person.

4. Relying too Much on External Validation

Getting external feedback is great for one’s growth, but relying too much on it can destroy your ability to self-judgment. You can lose your sense of value, and as a result, you might start misjudging yourself as a stupid and useless person.

5. Negative Life Events

If you have a negative life experience, it can also alter your perception of reality. It can be anything, starting from a messy breakup to an unexpected layoff at your job.

These unexpected and traumatic experiences can cause chronic stress that can severely impact your self-perception.

Just because your boss called you useless or your partner said they deserve better does NOT mean they are spitting facts. People can tell you what they think about you, but they can never decide what you are.

6. Poor Mental Health

Situations like depression, anxiety, or similar other mental health disorders can really mess up how you view things.

They can change the way you think, as well as how you look at yourself. So, even if there’s nothing wrong with you, you might start believing that you are stupid, dumb, or useless.

7. Medical Conditions

Medical conditions like dyslexia, ADHD, and autism can affect one’s cognitive functions. So as a result, they may not learn and understand things as quickly as others. For example, people with ADHD often suffer from focusing on something, while dyslexic people might face difficulty in reading texts.

These are medical conditions, and if you have any of these, comparing yourself with those who don’t have these will frustrate you. You should never think little of yourself for having these as there are millions of others who struggle with the same, and it DOES NOT make you stupid or dumb.

In fact, chances are you are extraordinary in doing something that most people aren’t. So try to find that and focus on it instead of thinking that you are stupid.

8. Medications

If you are on prescription medication, there’s a good chance that your low feelings are a side effect of the medicines.

Especially if you are on antidepressants or some hormonal pills, your mood and ability to think clearly can be affected. For example, you might become more emotional than usual, which can make you become more self-scrutinizing. Or you may experience brain foggs, which can stop you from remembering and processing things efficiently.

So, looking at the surface, you might call yourself stupid and dumb, which is wrong!

The Side Effects of Feeling Stupid

Whatever the reasons may be, if you keep feeling stupid and useless for a long time, it can affect you in many ways.

First and foremost, it can damage your self-esteem and can snowball into a lot of negative emotions, such as shame and embarrassment over everyday things.

These things can hinder your day-to-day activities and hamper your quality of life. If you keep feeling stupid for no reason, there is a chance you’ll develop chronic stress and anxiety that will take a toll on your mental and physical health.

Besides, you may find difficulty in socializing with people and trying new experiences. As a result, you will give up on learning new things and improving yourself.

How To Cope With The Feeling Of Being Stupid And Useless?

It is perfectly fine if you forget to take your passport to the airport and wonder, “Why am I so stupid?” for a second. But if you end up ruining your entire trip thinking about the incident, then that’s a big problem.

It means you are too self-criticizing and can not handle your mistakes. And as a result, get anxious and depressed.

So, if you are someone like that who finds it difficult to cope with the idea of being stupid or making mistakes, here are some tips for you.

Challenge your Negative Beliefs

Try to engage in self-reflection from time to time and note down the negative thoughts you have about yourself. Then, try to challenge them with evidence and see whether they are actually true or not.

Set Realistic Goals

If you are weak in maths and set a goal of learning calculus in a week, it is unrealistic. Try to make smaller goals that are more achievable so that you can enjoy the sense of accomplishment.

Lead a Healthy Lifestyle

As boring and old school as it might sound, it is true that the lifestyle you lead affects your mental health. Try exercising daily, having a balanced diet, and practicing relaxation techniques like art, yoga, or meditation.

Improve Skills or Pursue your Hobbies

You don’t have to learn new skills every month to prove yourself intelligent. Upskilling yourself can also help you feel more motivated.

Try Self-Comparison

Instead of comparing yourself to others, try comparing yourself to how you were a few months or years back.

Do Gratitude Journaling

Writing down positive things on a daily basis can help you shift your mind from being negative to positive and appreciate what you have achieved.

Surround Yourself with Positive and Supportive People

Try being around people who try to lift you up but in a positive way. If you feel someone’s criticism is making you more conscious, don’t ask them for their opinions.

Final Thoughts

Getting over the feeling of stupidity and worthlessness is challenging but not impossible. If you keep trying and take the right steps, you can improve your self-perception and mental well-being.

If you still feel lost and don’t know how to navigate such emotions, we recommend seeking support from mental health professionals to understand your underlying situation better.