This has been an interesting thread. Thanks for starting it, allme! And romanjames, those are awful things for them to say. Seriously, it always amazes me the kinds of things people say! As if we're not feeling bad enough about it already(!)

Back to the original question, another came to mind recently... I feel like a fraud when I am filling out applications and making resumes (I have a lot of <cough> varied job experiences, none long lived...). I know myself well enough to know that my ability to function fluctuates wildly. Consistency is elusive, to say the least. But to even hope for getting hired, hell, even *considered*, I need to present this consistent top-notch front. And it's BS. Finding it really hard to lie, you can imagine the inner conflict this produces. Combine that with rejection and the spiralling self-esteem and guilt of depression and... yeah, it's a mess. I very much feel like a fraud over this. I'm smart (exceptionally actually, but you'd never know it from my employment history..), a really good worker (usually), and take pride in work well done. And still I feel like a fraud for even thinking that I could be worth hiring and even more for having to pretend that I'm someone I'm not. Sometimes. And that's the problem. Are you... blahblahblah? Yes. No. It depends.
Ugh.