Hi again,
So let's look at this problem. For me it is very clear.
You "feel" dumb...that doesnt mean you are. You think they "sound so smart"...doesnt mean they are.
So, being much older than you (65yo) I now know that when I was school age up to say 30yo, that I was msarter than I gave myself credit for. I couldn't go past year 10 at school...yet I am here answering your post as a community Champion. I began my working life at 17yo by joining the Air Force and felt like I struggled there but received a commendation for helping with the cyclone relief effort at Darwin. And so on.
So we can achieve many thing in our lives but feel inadequate at the same time. We sometimes have deficiencies like poor communication, shyness, low self esteem, think we aren't attractive and so on yet all these things is how WE feel about ourselves and is often worse than it really is.
Also its sometimes a good idea to have interaction with friends one at a time. That way you both have total focus on each other which a group doesnt have. A group is also more false in behaviour than a single person talking.
Finally I've got a link to a thread below. It's about when my marriage failed and I had to leave the home and leave my two children there too. If you just read the first post of this thread it might help.
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/staying-well/the-best-praise-you'll-ever-get#qiHfqnHzvGGEbv8AAOnT_A
I'm glad you posted. You sound like a nice person.
TonyWK
