How to Identify the Syndrome When You Don’t Know

We are talking about Some people do not believe that they deserve their own success, that they can ask for decent money for their work and be called professionals. Despite external evidence of their worth, it seems to them that all their achievements are an accident, that they managed to be at the right time in the right place and they were able to mislead others, creating the image of a smarter and more competent person. This is what people with impostor syndrome look like.

What is impostor syndrome?

In 1978, psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes published an article , “Impostor Syndrome in High-Achieving Women: Dynamics and Therapeutic Intervention,” in which the term “imposter syndrome” first appeared. It was defined as follows:

“An inner feeling of doubt about one’s intellectual abilities, which is especially common among high-achieving women.” This study was based on psychotherapeutic work with 150 women from an academic environment who, despite their high achievements, insisted that they were not really as smart as they seemed and that they were able to mislead others.

Initially, it was believed that only professional women were susceptible to impostor syndrome, but subsequent studies showed that this psychological phenomenon occurs among people of both sexes, different professions, often well-educated, with extensive experience and striving for self-development.

Imposter syndrome is not considered a mental disorder and is not listed in ICD-10 (WHO’s International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision) or DSM-5 (the nomenclature of mental disorders used in the United States). Clance noted that she does not consider imposter syndrome to be a pathological disease aimed at self-destruction; rather, it is a condition that interferes with a person’s psychological well-being. Currently, impostor syndrome is studied not only within psychology, but also in other disciplines, as well as in the context of business psychology and management psychology.

How to recognize impostor syndrome?

Impostor syndrome can manifest in various ways, but here are some common signs to look out for:

1. Self-doubt: Constantly questioning your abilities, even in areas where you have expertise or experience.
2. Attributing success to luck or external factors: Believing that your achievements are due to chance rather than your own skills or efforts.
3. Fear of failure: Feeling that any mistake or setback will expose you as a fraud, leading to anxiety or avoidance of challenges.
4. Overachieving: Working excessively hard to prove yourself or seeking validation through perfectionism.
5. Discounting praise: Dismissing compliments or positive feedback as insincere or undeserved.
6. Comparing yourself to others: Continuously measuring your accomplishments against those of your peers and feeling inadequate as a result.
7. Persistent feelings of inadequacy: Despite evidence of competence, feeling like you don’t belong or aren’t good enough in your field.

Recognizing these signs is the first step toward overcoming impostor syndrome. If you find yourself experiencing these feelings, remember that many successful people struggle with similar doubts and that acknowledging and addressing them is a positive step towards personal growth and confidence.

Where does impostor syndrome come from?

There is still no consensus among experts as to whether impostor syndrome is a personality characteristic or a variant of an affective state that everyone can experience to a greater or lesser extent at a certain point in time.

If we consider this phenomenon as a personal trait, then the origins of its formation should be sought in early childhood. In particular, situations where parents did not give a positive reaction to the child’s efforts or successes or demanded only high results, for example, studying exclusively with straight A’s, can lead to the development of impostor syndrome.

Also, impostor syndrome is often considered as a phenomenon formed at a certain point in time, when in society it is important to be socially successful, to be realized in the professional field, in personal life and to meet certain standards in various areas.

This problem has become most urgent with the development of social networks, where many people openly share the events of their lives, often presenting them in a heavily retouched light. Therefore, if previously impostor syndrome manifested itself mainly in the professional sphere, now it affects various areas of life, for example, motherhood.

How to get rid of impostor syndrome?

If you feel like you are suffering from impostor syndrome and it’s really bothering you, you can consult a psychologist. There are many techniques to help minimize the manifestations of this syndrome. For example, it is recommended to write down all your skills and abilities on a piece of paper, without underestimating your merits. Or divide the sheet into two columns and write down in the first column the answers to the question: “how is impostor syndrome useful for me, what benefits do I get from it?”, and in the second – “what does this syndrome take away from me, what do I sacrifice for it?” Such written practices show the true picture more clearly.

Psychologists also advise writing down all the negative thoughts and attitudes that arise in your head during “attacks” of impostor syndrome (for example, “I’m a bad specialist”). Opposite each statement, you should write down another – the opposite and positive (“I am a good specialist”). In the future, when negative attitudes make themselves felt, you should mentally change them to the opposite.

At first you will have to make some effort for this, but in the future it will begin to happen automatically, and positive assessments will replace self-criticism.

our source: healthcust reader