Have you ever felt a feeling of not belonging, even when you earned that spot at your school or worked your way up in your career? This might be imposter syndrome. Impostor syndrome refers to the phenomenon when an individual internalizes their accomplishments, due to fear of being exposed as a “fraud.”
Those with imposter syndrome are psychologically uncomfortable with acknowledging their role in their own success, but their negative thoughts (often referred to as “cognitive distortions”) are based on anxiety, rather than objective facts. Although it was initially believed that imposter syndrome predominantly affected women, subsequent gender-related data on the subject has revealed this isn’t the case — many people of all backgrounds and identities can sometimes feel out-of-place amongst their achievements.
Prevalence of imposter syndrome
While feelings of unworthiness can happen to anyone, anywhere, impostor syndrome is especially prevalent in the workplace. People feel like they’ll soon get in trouble for being in a role that they rightfully earned through a rigorous interview or competitive application process. They might even think, “I don’t deserve this good fortune! My boss must have made a mistake, hiring me.”
Imposter syndrome isn’t limited to professional life, though. It can impact personal life in hard-hitting ways. This includes feeling inadequate in a relationship or as a partner, which could become a prolonged conflict in the relationship. It might also look like the incapacity to accept personal praise or going overboard on challenging, often ambitious, goals.
Symptoms of impostor syndrome
Symptoms of impostor syndrome can look different for different people, though there are some consistent and tell-tale red flags. Symptoms might include:
- Extreme lack of self confidence
- Feelings of inadequacy
- Constant comparison to other people
- Anxiety
- Self doubt
- Distrust in one’s own intuition and capabilities
- Negative self-talk
- Dwelling on the past
- Irrational fears of the future
In professional settings, typical examples include:
- Taking on extra work to make sure you’re “doing it all”
- Shrugging off accolades
- Not applying to job postings unless you meet every single requirement
How to overcome imposter syndrome
Here are some small steps you can take to identify and overcome your unique imposter syndrome patterns:
- Remember that success is subjective
- Set boundaries around systems or individuals who detract from your personal wellness and growth
- Take ownership of objective successes
- Perform consistent self-care check ins
- Speak with a therapist
Many therapists specialize in working with individuals who suffer from the impacts of imposter syndrome. A therapist can help you better understand your imposter syndrome-tendencies. Together, you’ll come up with ways to inhibit these tendencies so that you feel confident, empowered, and in-control of your emotions when it comes to acknowledging all of your accomplishments. Finding the right therapist begins with checking out multiple therapist profiles, which is easy to do on Zencare. Zencare includes personalized introductory videos for each therapist so you can get a feel of their approach and style. Once you find a therapist that matches your needs, schedule a consultation call with them through their Zencare profile — then you’re at the starting line for conquering your imposter syndrome!