Imposter Syndrome: ‘Who Are You Really?’
Imposter syndrome is a pervasive feeling of fraudulence. Sufferers often fear being found out as not good enough, or even worse, a fraud. It can affect anyone from CEOs to stay-at-home moms, regardless of their profession or field of study. It’s not just a problem for people in high-pressure jobs, either; it can affect anyone who feels like they don’t deserve the success they’ve had in their life. To help explain this condition better—and let people know that they aren’t alone if they experience it—we’ll explore what causes it and how people can deal with it effectively.
What is imposter syndrome and what causes it?
Imposter syndrome is someone who feels like they are frauds, or that they’re not as good as everyone else thinks they are. They may even lie about their accomplishments because they fear being exposed as fakes or failures–they worry that people will find out that they don’t deserve their success and reject them if this secret gets out. This can lead to anxiety and depression for those who suffer from it; some even have suicidal thoughts due to feeling worthless because of their perceived lack of ability or intelligence compared with others around them.
It’s also known as “imposter phenomenon”, but both terms refer to the same thing: an inability to accept one’s accomplishments due to feelings of inadequacy and inferiority compared with others. It’s when you’re unable to internalize your success because you don’t think that you deserve it or that others will realize that you’re not as good at what you do as they think.
Imposter syndrome isn’t just about feeling like an imposter if your achievements are revealed, it’s about feeling like one even when no one knows!
Imposter syndrome prevents people from realizing their full potential. In 2012, Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes published a paper on this topic in which they define it as “a state in which one fears being exposed as a ‘fraud’–a person who has attained high academic and/or professional status through deception. The phenomenon can manifest in several ways:
- You compare yourself to others and feel like you don’t deserve your success.
- You believe that other people have been given more opportunities than you have, or are more talented than you are.
- You worry that if people find out who you really are (i.e., an impostor), they will no longer respect or value your work or presence as much as they do now.
Why do people feel like an imposter?
Imposter syndrome is a natural response to being in a new or uncommon situation. It can come from lack of confidence or feeling like you don’t belong. It may have its underpinnings in low self-esteem, fear of failure or even fear of success.
It’s important to understand that imposter syndrome is just part of who we are at times when we’re facing challenges or transitioning into new roles.
Some common signs of impostor syndrome
Some common signs of impostor syndrome include believing that you’re undeserving of your success and are a fraud. You may feel like you don’t belong in your position or field, even though others recognize your talents and abilities. Additionally, you might also feel like others would find out about your inadequacy if they found out who you really were.
You might worry that someone will discover that the success you’ve achieved isn’t really due to your own efforts, but rather because of luck or timing. You might think: “If they knew my true self, then they’d realize I’m not good enough for this position.”
If you’re experiencing this type of anxiety, it often stems from feelings of being an outsider or having a fear of being discovered as not talented enough for the job or task given to you. You may feel like your success is undeserved and that others would find out about your inadequacy if they found out who you really were.
This can lead to low self-esteem and even depression in some cases. It’s important to remember that everyone struggles with imposter syndrome at some point in their lives–even successful people!
Most people can identify with some form of these feelings, even if not all sufferers have the same life experience.
In fact, research has shown that up to 70% of students experience imposter syndrome at some point during their studies. The good news is that it’s not your fault–it’s a phenomenon that happens when you feel like you’re not worthy of praise or success because there’s always someone else who is better than you or has more experience than you do.
How to deal with imposter syndrome
You can deal with imposter syndrome in several of ways:
- Be kind to yourself. The first step in overcoming imposter syndrome is to start treating yourself better. Everyone has moments when they feel like a fraud, but recognizing this doesn’t mean you’re not good at your job or worthy of respect.
- Talk to someone who understands what you’re going through–a friend or family member who can offer some perspective and support may do wonders for your confidence and peace of mind.
- Take a break from work if possible; sometimes stepping away from the pressure of proving yourself as an individual can help you see things more clearly and regain perspective on where you stand in relation to everyone else around you.
- Learn how to accept compliments graciously without feeling guilty or uncomfortable about them; it’s okay if someone thinks highly of something you’ve said or done! Allow yourself permission to not only accept praise but also enjoy it when it comes along!
- Seek professional help if necessary. If doing it alone doesn’t seem like enough, consider seeking the help of a psychologist as well as getting treatment for any mental health issues (such as anxiety) that may be contributing to your symptoms.
It’s not your fault if you feel like an imposter.
If you’re feeling like an imposter, know you’re not alone. Many people go through this at some point in their lives, but it doesn’t mean that they are frauds or undeserving of success. Take time to reflect and look at your accomplishments so far — you may have accomplished more than you realize!
If imposter syndrome is causing you distress and affecting your life, Adelaide Psychology can offer professional guidance in identifying the underlying cause and offer practical strategies for dealing with depression, anxiety and low self-esteem.
