I'm backwards/ behind

[nyota]

Am I right to think that "I'm backwards" cannot be used in the same way as "I'm behind", namely, to mean "late", and that "backwards" could rather imply I'm a bit slow on the mental side?

[emsr2d2]

Am I right to think that "I'm backwards" cannot be used in the same way as "I'm behind", namely, to mean "late", and that "backwards" could rather imply I'm a bit slow on the mental side?

They don't mean the same thing, you're right. "Backward[s]" implies mentally slow and is a rather unpleasant term that shouldn't be used!