Imposter Syndrome: What Is It and How to Overcome It?

Written by Resurchify | Updated on: April 19, 2022

I was travelling on a bus when I read a story. It was a sad story of a highly ambitious girl. She belonged to a moderate family. Being a bright student, she gained a scholarship from a well-known college. From there, she started working for a multinational company. She was a confident and intelligent girl. And she was doing well in her work.

Later, she was promoted to a higher position. It was generally filled by a male candidate. Suddenly, her abilities were tested. She was asked various questions as if to interrogate her. Everything was new. She had never faced a situation like this. Being a candidate from a lower background, she started doubting her abilities. She was an intelligent and worthwhile candidate, but her confidence gradually started decreasing.

Her self-doubt started causing hindrance in her work. She went into depression. She felt as if she had cheated everyone. She is a fraud. And, one day, everyone is bound to know about her reality. This is the condition of many candidates who often feels like they do not belong to the environment. Well, this condition is known as imposter syndrome or imposter phenomenon. It is a common problem and can happen to anyone.

Let us know more about imposter syndrome that might help us to diagnose our problem.

What is Imposter Syndrome?

Imposter syndrome is a psychological condition where people feel as if they have achieved their success by frauding someone. And, they don’t deserve the position in which they are. Imposter syndrome has a long history of its own. Many well-known people who have achieved great success have gone through it. About 82 per cent of candidates have attended a study. They said that they had gone through this situation in their lives.

However, easier said than done. Imposter syndrome is not easy to tackle. It sometimes leaves a person with depression and anxiety. Though this is just a false state of mind, it effectively reduces the efficiency of a person, making them unfit for the position in reality. Imposter syndrome has different types. It is not the same for every person. Different people may face imposter syndrome differently. Overall, it is a psychological condition. And, at the very moment, when you come to know about it, talk to someone with whom you feel secure. But how will we come to know that we are suffering through it? Let us know how does it feel like that might help to answer our question.

What does Imposter Syndrome feel like?

It sometimes happens that even if the whole world believes in you and praises you, you still believe that you got everything by luck and don’t deserve all these things. You feel as if you have snatched someone else opportunity or you have cheated on someone. This feeling is pretty common when you get unexpected success or an early promotion in your work. You start believing that no, you are not the right person for this job. You have cheated everyone. And, one day, they are bound to know the truth.

It often happens when colleagues start interrogating our success. What are our qualifications? And, do we deserve this position? This feeling makes us insecure about our work. We try to be more and more perfect in our work. Even a minor mistake shakes our belief. We feel as if we are stupid or dumb. And then we start losing our confidence in ourselves.

This goes on in the form of a cycle. The more we feel underconfident, the more we start working over perfection. And, even a slight error in our work makes us desperate. We start doubting our abilities again. And, the time comes when these feelings lead us to stress, depression, and anxiety.

Why does Imposter Syndrome occur?

Well, there is no specific reason why does it occur. It is a state of mind that can happen to anyone. Earlier, it was believed that only women suffered through it being the largest group of vulnerable. But recent studies have shown that imposter syndrome can happen to anyone. Whether you are a college student, working guy, celebrity, and even an entrepreneur.

A few points have been discovered that increasingly affect the condition of imposter syndrome. These factors depend on who you are and where you come from?

Childhood

Even a child can face imposter syndrome. Certain factors play an important role in this condition. First is when a child is continuously compared by his siblings and gets scolded even for a minor mistake. Children start feeling they do not belong to the environment and are of no use.

Next is when parents or family members pressure the student to do good in studies. Every child has their capabilities. Parents even try to control them, i.e., completely wrong children. Forcing them to do better create stress in their little mind.

In schools and colleges, average students are often scolded to do better in their studies. Even it has been seen that teachers differentiate between a bright student and a low student. This deeply affects the mind of children, and the feeling of worthlessness hits them hard.

Personality Problem and Mental Health Symptoms

A student never failed an examination. When he sat for a competitive examination, he was not able to qualify for it. It was terrifying for him. He was not able to digest the fact. Thankfully, he again started working on his goal. But this time, he started feeling a bit anxious. He was overlapped with self-doubt and loss of confidence. He started feeling as if he was simply not good enough. Though he always topped his class, he then felt as if he is dumb. Later, he talked about it to her mother. Her mother took the help of a counsellor. Now, that boy is working in a government job.

This was a simple case of a boy. Many people are facing the same situation. They used to be mister or mistress perfect, and suddenly when they enter a new environment, they find it difficult to cope with everything.

Certain health problem has also been the reason for imposter syndrome. No two people are the same in this world. When we force ourselves to fit the other’s shoe, we start feeling depressed. The simple thing is that we cannot fit in someone other’s shoe. We need to build our shoes.

From where we belong also plays an important role. Sometimes, we feel humiliated because of our background. And this is the biggest reason for imposter syndrome.

Is Imposter Syndrome common to everyone?

It is more frequent in a specific group of people, for example, women and minorities. However, it can happen to everyone. No specific gender and age are specified to it. Even children of age group 12 to 14 years can face this problem. The reason behind it is the treatment get at their home and school. At home, they are even compared with the more liked kid. At school, they are continuously scolded to do better in their studies. All these things have a negative impact on their brain.

Not only children but also grown-up people are facing this problem extensively. It is even seen in older people who start doubting their abilities and efficiency with time.

Who does Imposter Syndrome affect the most?

It is common for almost everyone, but some group faces it more. These groups had fought for their rights for a long time. After doing such hard work to reach that position. When they are in the position, they don’t get the same treatment. People even believe that they have got this opportunity by cheating. They are not suitable for that position.

Women are most vulnerable to this feeling. The efficiency of a woman is severely tested to ensure that she can manage both home and work. A male-dominated society always believes that women are less talented than them and treat them accordingly. Suppose a chairman of a big company is a woman. Men find it difficult to digest this fact because it conflicts with their earlier perceptions. And, instead of having faith in the abilities of women, they think she got this position due to favours.

Minorities face the same problem. After spending a large part of life in vulnerability. When they get a chance to step along with high societies. They feel that they are not capable enough to do so. They feel as if they have snatched this position from someone else who is more eligible than them.

Is Imposter Syndrome a health problem?

No, imposter syndrome is not a health problem. Rather, it is just a state of mind. We feel as if we are worthless. Instead of meeting a healthcare provider, talk to a counsellor. Visiting a counsellor doesn’t mean that you are not normal. Imposter syndrome happens to normal people. It has nothing to do with abnormalities. It is simply a state of mind, but people find it difficult to get rid of it at home.

Self-confidence and efficiency are the first things that get attacked by imposter syndrome. And, gaining confidence in yourself is not an easy task.

How can we overcome Imposter Syndrome?

The biggest thing is that imposter syndrome is an illusion we have started believing in reality. We can fight with real things, but how will we fight with an illusion. This makes the cure of imposter syndrome quite difficult. The feeling is the last thing to change in the body of a person. And imposter syndrome is nothing else but just a combination of complex feelings.

Since imposter syndrome is not a disease, we cannot cure it with the help of medicines. It depends on the person how to determine they are to change their condition. It simply vanishes when the person realizes that it is just an illusion and it has nothing to do with reality. But it takes a hard struggle and time to realize this fact.

Here we have compiled a few tips that might help you to overcome your problem. These are just a few confidence-building steps that might help you to realize your efficiency and capabilities. These steps might only help you realize that you have achieved your position by your abilities, not by any pity or sympathy.

Here are a few things that you can do to overcome imposter syndrome.

Remember, you are not alone

Well, you are not the only person who is going through this situation. A lot of people have gone through this. And a lot of people are still going through it. It is pretty natural, like cough and cold. But it doesn’t go away like cough and cold.

Reports have shown that nearly 80 per cent of the population faces the same situation in their life. Even various celebrities have reported facing it.

You need to understand that it is pretty normal and can happen to anyone. It is just an illusion and has nothing to do with reality. Sympathize with yourself and believe it is just a feeling. And, it has nothing to do with your abilities.

Watch what you feel when this feeling stuck you

Work on your feelings if you know that imposter syndrome has stuck you. Don’t do anything. Just feel whatever you have in your mind. Check out the feelings. What are you feeling, and how are you feeling? If possible, note down everything in your notebook. Point out every possible thing that is in your mind.

The best way to do this is to sit in a comfortable position, concentrate on your brain, and just go through the feelings that come into your mind. Simply, go through every feeling. Start noting it down. Pick out all the problems and write them all in chronological order.

Remember, it is just a feeling that has stuck you. Don’t get deep inside it. You can take the help of others as well. Talk to the people who genuinely care for you. Take help of them in noting down what you are feeling right now. Talk to them about every point that you have written on it.

Keep this note with yourself. Check out the point are they all pretty common with you. Knowing about yourself helps to regain confidence.

Point out what are the things that trigger your feelings

After noting down all those points:

Give it a thorough observation.
Check out every point.
Point out what are the things that stimulate the feeling of imposter syndrome.

Certain feelings often trigger it. You need to point out those feelings. It can be anything. Whether you talk to one of your colleagues or join a group discussion, your boss scolds you, or when you make a simple mistake.

Triggers are often related to what kind of work you are doing and what is your age group. Children face imposter syndrome due to the environment they get at school and home. And women face this problem because of the treatment they get at home and office. Managing both home and office is not an easy task. It often left the women exhausted and depressed.

Next is minorities who face this condition after talking to their colleagues or treatment that they get from their workplace. Normal people face this problem when they lose confidence in themselves. Like when mister perfect do some mistake. It dramatically decreases their confidence, that leads to imposter syndrome.

Rephrase those feeling

It happens with us that when you feel worthless, certain talks or chit-chats go into your mind. These chit-chats highly disturb and distract our minds. However, it can also help to understand what is going on in your mind. Read on those chit-chats carefully. Now, when you are listening to the chit-chats of your mind. Then, you can also change it. Rephrase the talks going on in your mind.

To rephrase those points, you need to keep certain points in your mind. Your rephrased lines should be positive and exciting. It should be free from any overload. It should build confidence in you. You are efficient and powerful; every line should reflect this.

For example, if your mind says, “you are not good enough”, rephrase it and say, “you worked hard for everything, and now you will learn a lot from this position”. If your mind is saying, “people with more qualifications for this job were waiting for this job”. Then, rephrase it and say, “I have also worked hard for this position, and it always takes abilities to reach a position. It doesn’t matter from where you belong. Your efficiency matters the most”.

Always try to be positive

Negative thoughts drastically affect our minds. You need to control it. Try to fill your life with positive vibes. Go for a morning and evening walk in the park or anywhere you would love to go. Take long breaths and release them. Take every problem of your life with a smile. Listen to some positive sounds in the morning. Talk to the people who genuinely love you and care for you.

The positive vibe will restrain negative feelings from entering your mind. It will keep you happy and self-confident. Don’t allow other people to control your mind. Have trust in yourself and be positive. Things are bound to change; it just needs a little time.

Success is not a big deal, fake it till you make it

We have dramatized success in such a way that we think success is not an easy thing to achieve. It gives rise to the feeling that success is unachievable. Reports have shown that even famous personalities have gone through this feeling. Hence, when people get success in one go, they get filled with self-doubt. Whether they get the achievement due to any pity or sympathy. It is pretty common with the people who are first. Like, first lady, first African, first tribal, etc.

Be kind and expressive

Some people love perfection. They don’t want to do anything that is not perfect. They want everything in order and just perfect. These types of people, when they commit mistakes, can’t digest this fact. They surround by self-pity and self-doubts.

People should understand that mistake is just an opportunity to make a new start. Human beings are bound to make mistakes. It’s not a big deal. We should always be kind to ourselves. We are the people who have learned from our mistakes and will continue to learn. It shouldn’t affect our progress.

Point out those things that trigger your imposter syndrome. You need not clarify that you are suffering from imposter syndrome to do all these things. You should try it out even if you feel that you cannot manage the stress. If you feel that you have a lack of motivation or you are not suitable for this task. Or, you are under-confident. Above mentioned tips will help you to meet with reality.

Can a doctor help us with Imposter Syndrome?

Well, a doctor can help us with this. But it is going to cause a negligible difference. It would be better if you take the help of a counsellor. Since this is a mental condition, it can help you better. You can even cure it at home. But most times we are not willing to accept this fact. Thus, a counsellor helps us to identify our problems. Talk to one of them, or you can talk to someone in your group whom you think can advise better.

Conclusion

To conclude, imposter syndrome is not a disease. It is just a state of mind that stuck people. In imposter syndrome, people often get stuck with worthless. They feel as if they have cheated on someone and don’t deserve the position they are currently on. Well, a few steps can help to get rid of it.

But make sure to keep a few things in your mind. If you feel that you don’t deserve the position, it may be possible that it is just an illusion. You need to talk to someone. The best you can do is talk to a counsellor. Be patient with what you do. Results don’t relieve themselves in one day.

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