If you have ever felt incompetent in comparison to how others perceive you, you have experienced imposter syndrome. It is the feeling that you are an imposter, you will be exposed as a fraud at any moment, and you don’t belong where you are and that you got there by accident. This disorder can affect anyone, regardless of their socioeconomic background or level of expertise.
Many people only have symptoms for a short period, such as when starting a new job or school. Others may keep having the experience for the rest of their lives.
What is impostor syndrome?
People who suffer from impostorism believe that their success is a result of good luck and timing than their hard work and talent. Apart from the fear of being exposed, people who suffer from this condition may also experience feelings of isolation and rejection, including other negative emotions like self-doubt, fear of success, fear of failure, and even the desire to harm oneself.
Today, impostor syndrome affects people from all walks of life, regardless of their age, gender, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status. On the other hand, men may experience more severe reactions, such as an increase in anxiety or stress, and it can end up causing them to underperform.
Recently, impostorism has emerged as a problem among high school and university students and young professionals who are less confident about the next steps they need to take. As a result of this lack of self-confidence and self-doubt, they make poor decisions when it comes to choosing a career path, a college, or a subject of study.
In this article, we will discuss how to help teenagers and adults overcome imposter syndrome. We will also learn about imposter syndrome.
Symptoms
Impostor syndrome has the following symptoms:
- a feeling of dishonesty
- fear of being found out
- a hard time recognizing their accomplishments
Doubt about one’s abilities and accomplishments can aid in self-evaluation, but excessive self-doubt can harm one’s self-esteem.
When this happens “impostor syndrome” sets in, and it has the potential to negatively impact many aspects of a person’s life.
Causes
A single factor is not responsible for the cause of imposter syndrome. A variety of internal and external factors can contribute to the development of this trait. Impostor syndrome has been linked to neuroticism and low conscientiousness. They both are associated with higher rates of impostor syndrome. Both neuroticism and conscientiousness can lead to higher levels of stress and negative emotions (like neurotic anxiety), but they are distinct traits.
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Family upbringing
Research has shown that parents and family dynamics are linked to mental health. A teen’s development of imposter syndrome may be linked to overprotective or overly controlling parenting styles in the home.
Perhaps your parents alternated between lavishing praise and berating you for your inability to achieve success.
If you come from a family where conflict is common and support is scarce, you may be more susceptible to imposter syndrome.
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Anxiety in a public place
There may be a link between social anxiety and imposter syndrome. It is common for someone with a social anxiety disorder (SAD) to feel uncomfortable in social or performance situations.
You may be afraid that the other person will discover your lack of social skills while you are conversing. When delivering a presentation, you may find yourself thinking, “I just need to get through this before anyone realizes I’m not supposed to be here! “
In some cases, people with imposter syndrome don’t also have symptoms of social anxiety. Feelings of inferiority and self-doubt can be experienced by people who do not suffer from social anxiety. It is possible for people who are normally calm to become anxious when they feel that they are undervalued because of imposter syndrome.
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New job or school
New roles can also lead to feelings of inadequacy, which can be difficult to shake. While attending college or university, you may feel like you don’t fit in or have the ability to succeed.
Imposter syndrome appears to be most prevalent when people are transitioning or trying something new for the first time.
Feelings of inadequacy are common when people are thrust into new roles and environments where they must perform and succeed despite their inexperience.
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Perfectionism:
Impostor syndrome is exacerbated by perfectionism. You may believe that there is a perfect “script” for conversations and that you cannot possibly say anything inappropriate. You may have difficulty soliciting assistance from others and may procrastinate as a result of your high standards.
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Neuroticism:
Neuroticism is one of the five major personality dimensions associated with increased levels of anxiety, insecurity, tension, and guilt.
Diagnosis
Impostor syndrome is not labeled as a diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). However, some experts believe that it should be given this status.
People who suffer from impostor syndrome, anxiety, or other associated symptoms can seek help from mental health professionals.
Tips to overcome imposter syndrome
Imposter syndrome does not have a simple treatment plan. Such feelings of deficiency can only be overcome by a constant focus on mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral techniques.
To overcome these feelings, you must develop an ability to confront some of the most deeply embedded beliefs you have about yourself. The following steps can also assist a person in managing and overcoming an impostor syndrome-related sense of inadequacy:
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Change your definition of failure & success
Impostor syndrome can be overcome by rethinking one’s definitions of success and failure; instead of seeing success and failure as opposites, you can see them as interrelated. If you want to succeed, you have to learn from previous failures. It is important to view mistakes as milestones on the road to success to avoid giving up or becoming discouraged along the way.
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Engage in problem-solving through creative means
When people are afraid or ashamed, they tend to close their minds and stop being curious and creative. It’s better to try to brainstorm on your own and write down all of the ideas that come to you than to let fear of making a mistake, failing, or doing things incorrectly paralyse you. In a world where you don’t have to worry about other people judging or criticising your ideas, you’re more likely to try new things.
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Take the help of a therapist
A therapist can assist you in identifying imposter syndrome-related feelings and in developing new coping mechanisms to overcome them.
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Stop comparing yourself to others
Measure your accomplishments instead of comparing yourself to those of others. Comparison to an influencer’s social media feed can lead to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt about your own life.
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Talk to a person you trust
Talking openly about your impostor syndrome can feel liberating and take power away from this secret because everyone with impostor syndrome is terrified of their secret identity being exposed. Even if you don’t realize it at the time, speaking aloud can help you see how irrational some of your thoughts are. Even people who have served as role models or who appear to be self-assured may have experienced similar feelings and fears.
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Take one step at a time
Instead of focusing on doing things perfectly, reward yourself for taking action for doing things reasonably well. Participate in a group discussion by contributing your thoughts or telling a story about yourself, for example.
You should follow these tips and look for professional help. Don’t order stress or anxiety medication online all by yourself without consultation. It can make your situation worse than it is.
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