Imposter Syndrome

Imposter Syndrome which is a psychological health issue knows no bound as it can occur in anybody irrespective of your race, gender or age but it is very common amongst women and minorities. It occurs in successful and highly intelligent individuals with great achievements or accomplishments.

Impostor Syndrome is a pervasive feeling of self-doubt, insecurity, or fraudulence despite often overwhelming evidence to the contrary. This often occurs when things of great importance has been achieved or accomplished, for instance; just aced an interview and landed yourself a good paying job, admission into a very popular and hyped university with difficult and very high cutoff mark, winning awards and promotions.

Some symptoms are; giving yourself negative pep talks, no or low self-confidence, anxiety, doubts about your achievements, feeling inadequate that is, not good enough and dwelling on past mistakes and expecting them to pop up or resurface.

Imposter Syndrome feeds on fears and doubts that has been tucked in away from the general public.

Ways of fighting Imposter Syndrome

Acceptance

In order to fight something, you must first acknowledge its presence and this applies to this too. The first step is to admit, recognise and accept the fact that you have Imposter Syndrome.

Challenge negative thoughts

Negative thoughts play a very major role in Imposter Syndrome; therefore directing your thoughts toward the positive side and overcoming self-doubt or negativity is important. It may also be helpful to work with an experienced therapist in cognitive behavioural therapy. This therapy improves strategies of combatting unhelpful thinking patterns.

Talk about it

Talking to family members, close friends or professionals is another step to take. It is a break from keeping it all in but instead expressing yourself to a third party. This is a very good process which aims at finding the source and what you do that aggravates it or caused it in the first instance.

Accept that perfectionism is impossible

Nobody is perfect, we are all prone to make mistakes which is inevitable and that is what makes us human. Understanding this is very important because it helps with embracing our flaws and accepting that we are allowed to make mistakes enhances or self worth and self-esteem.

Get educated

Knowing more or gathering information about the Syndrome is very important to those who suffer from it. It makes you aware of the causes, which is when you can identify with what triggered yours and ways to go about the possible solutions.