How to Recognize and Combat Imposter Syndrome

Never heard of imposter syndrome? You’ll be surprised to know that it’s astoundingly common. Research has found that as many as 82% of people worldwide will experience some form of imposter syndrome at some point in their lives. 

But what is imposter syndrome? How do we recognize the signs? And most importantly, if you’re displaying signs of having imposter syndrome, how do you overcome it? 

Keen to learn the answers to these questions? Stay with us as we discuss. 

Imposter Syndrome: What is it?

Do you feel like a fraud? Feel like you’ve fooled everyone into believing you’re cleverer, more capable, and more competent than you really are? These are central components of imposter syndrome. Other common characteristics of the syndrome include:

• Diminishing your accomplishments by putting them down to ‘fluke’ or ‘luck’.
• Feeling that you don’t belong, or that you have ‘fudged’ your way into somewhere, like your workplace.
• Genuinely believing that others are more intelligent and more qualified than you are.
• Constantly doubting yourself, your work, and everything you do.
• Convincing yourself that you don’t deserve to have achieved certain goals, even though you’ve worked hard to reach them. 

Although most people who experience imposter syndrome will commonly share these characteristics, it’s important to note that there are several different types of sufferers of imposter syndrome. These archetypes include: 

• ‘Perfectionists’, who never believe that what they’ve achieved is good enough.
• ‘Experts’, who feel they must know it all, otherwise, their knowledge is lacking.
• ‘Natural geniuses’, who expect to be able to learn new skills with ease, and believe they’re failing if they can’t.
• ‘Soloists’, who never want to ask for help or admit they need support.
• ‘Superhumans’, who believe they can and must be able to do it all – and excel at it, too.

Recognizing the Signs of Imposter Syndrome

Feel like you may have imposter syndrome? Here are some of the tell-tale signs to look out for:

• You compensate for feelings of inadequacy by working harder than you need to.
• You constantly seek external validation from peers or mentors to reassure you that you’re good enough.
• You’re guilty of black-and-white thinking: it’s either perfect, or it’s abominable. There are no gray areas or in-betweens, leaving little room for error.
• You downplay your achievements and lack confidence in your own abilities.
• You’re a people pleaser and care intensely about other people’s perceptions of you and your work.

The reassuring news? If you’ve said yes to one or more of these imposter syndrome signs, this enables you to recognize that you have a problem – which means you can work to overcome it. 

How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome

If you have imposter syndrome, you may have a deeper underlying issue. Although imposter syndrome is not currently listed as a psychiatric disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), it could be a sign of other traumas. 

Imposter syndrome is quite often a product of our personal history. Have you had a parental figure or role model constantly tell you you’re not good enough, or that you need to work harder? This constant negative reinforcement can lead us to develop insecurities and doubts about ourselves and diminish our sense of self-worth. 

The good news? You can overcome and unpack your trauma-led insecurity by seeing a licensed counselor. In the age of telehealth, you don’t even need to attend an in-clinic appointment. The advent of the internet now means online counseling psychology sessions are readily available and make seeking mental and emotional support easier than ever. The best part? US government initiatives like Medicaid can enable therapy-goers to access rebates for psychiatric care. 

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How to recognize and combat imposter syndrome? As discussed today, certain tell-tale signs could indicate you need help. 

The best news? There is a way out of the cycle of imposter syndrome. You can heal from your deep-set insecurities and fear of failure – whether you’re a perfectionist, you’re trying to be an expert, a natural genius, or a superhero, or you’re too much of a soloist to seek support.

The key to overcoming your symptoms? Get professional help. Licensed counselors and trauma healers will help you develop the self-awareness you need to combat your inner critic, and finally heal from your imposter syndrome.