Imposter Syndrome: The Reason for Feeling like a Fraud
By Sadie Williams
Have you ever been in a situation where you don’t feel like you belong? I know I have. Think about a time you started something new and felt doubt or fear of failure. Consider what it might be like when a new student walks onto a college campus. At first, they might be ready and excited, but when they look around at all their peers, they can’t help but feel unsure about themselves. Suddenly, everyone seems more skilled and prepared than them. Despite putting in the same amount of effort to get accepted, they feel like they are in over their heads and frankly, don’t belong. This feeling is something we refer to as imposter syndrome. If this scenario describes your feelings, don’t worry. This is something you can overcome.
In the article What is Imposter Syndrome , imposter syndrome is defined as the constant feeling of not being good enough, feeling like you don’t measure up, and fearing you’ll be exposed as a fake, even when you have achieved success. This is different than self-doubt. The difference is that self-doubt is something that is temporary while imposter syndrome is ongoing. People might doubt themselves when they have had failures in the past or are temporally lacking confidence. This can be changed when you have proof that you can succeed. When it comes to imposter syndrome, you continue to be insecure about your abilities even when there is proof that says otherwise. It is okay to have a little self-doubt here and there, but when it starts to interfere with your life, that’s when it becomes a problem.
So, why do we experience Imposter syndrome? This is something often experienced in reaction to events. This could include things like the example given above about starting college, but it can also be experienced when starting a new job, becoming a parent, or in a romantic relationship. Studies suggest that external factors like our environment and interactions with others can play a big role in experiencing imposter syndrome (Gottlieb, 2023).
One of the main symptoms of imposter syndrome is feeling like a fraud. Arlin Cuncic has an article on imposter syndrome. In this article she talks about how confusing this syndrome is, because it is often experienced by high achieving individuals. Even though these people have achieved genuine success through dedication and hard work, they either attribute it to luck or have this idea that they are going to be unmasked like a villain from Scooby-Doo. This way of thinking can make us feel alone. Especially in the world of social media. It’s difficult for us to be confident in our abilities because we are constantly comparing ourselves to what we see on the internet.
As I said at the beginning, if you feel like this you are not alone. This is something over 70% of people experience in their lifetime (Owens, 2021). I am not saying the feeling of imposter syndrome isn’t real, but we need to remember that it’s all in our head. Coping with imposter syndrome isn’t easy but it’s possible. It’s important that we don’t compare ourselves so much, and keep in mind that our success is valid. These are just some of things we can do to combat the feeling of imposter syndrome. Other strategies include acknowledging and normalizing the feeling of imposter syndrome, talking to a therapist or a friend you trust, or changing your mindset and thinking about what causes these negative feelings. Lastly, something that might be helpful is mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. This is a type of therapy that focuses on gaining compassion and helps people reflect on their feelings. This is one approach that has helped others overcome imposter syndrome (Owens, 2021). It wasn’t luck that got you onto that college campus or hired for that new job. It was the work you put into it.
References
Gottlieb, M. (2023). When I say … imposter syndrome. Medical Education, 57(11), 1008–1009. https://doi.org/10.1111/medu.15160
Cuncic, A. (2024, January 19). Imposter Syndrome: Why You May Feel Like a Fraud . Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/imposter-syndrome-and-social-anxiety-disorder-4156469
Owens, A. (2021, December). What is imposter syndrome?. Psycom. https://www.psycom.net/imposter-syndrome