Imposter Syndrome is a surreal feeling on the rise that causes many people to share the same sentiment. If you have not experienced it, it feels a little something like this: Imagine, after a long 7 hour school day, you come home to wind down and relax. As you are scrolling through what seems to be an endless amount of Instagram reels, your serene space of comfort consumes you. You are super cozy in your sweatshirt and sweatpants and have your all you can eat snack buffet right next to you, all the more reason to stay in your room and enjoy your time. After watching the video, you stumble upon another of a college student who just got into Yale! You are so happy for them and decided to support them and give them a view. Upon leaving the video, you realize that throughout their high school career, this student has created multiple nonprofits, founded a million dollar business, has an unimaginable amount of volunteer hours, and on top of this has a 4.8 GPA coupled with 15 AP classes and numerous different outstanding awards of academic achievement. You realize that this is what you’re up against, and slowly sink into your bed, the burden of doubt too heavy on your mind. The snacks you once enjoyed now remain untouched by a derelict appetite. The comfort of the clothes and serenity of the room all fade away. A ruined Friday is now the least of your problems.
This overbearing and constant controlling feeling is called imposter syndrome, a feeling that many people experience at least once in their lifetime. Imposter syndrome, as defined by Web MD is when you “doubt your own skills and success.” You often feel you are not as good as others or do not deserve your accomplishments and therefore feel like and “imposter”. With this feeling comes the fear that individuals will one day recognize your failure to achieve to a certain extent. Though imposter syndrome is not an official mental health diagnosis, it can ruin multiple different areas or aspects of your life.
Characteristics and symptoms of imposter syndrome include intellectual self doubt, low self esteem, feelings of inadequacy, fear of failure, and super heroism (NIH). Not only are there mental and emotional characteristics, but there are also many physical ones. Someone with imposter syndrome may appear to be anxiety ridden, depressed or in a constant state of sadness, or constantly tired and burned out. Some may also suffer from personality disorders. Even though Imposter syndrome is widespread, especially now due to the prevalence of TikTok and other social media platforms, it is rather isolating and causes one to try to close up and fix all their problems themselves. This syndrome can keep a person from excelling in certain aspects like sports and in a professional environment. It can also keep one from engaging in new opportunities. For example, someone may want to start knitting, however they do not deem themselves as a good knitter. This person constantly compares themselves to great knitters, making them less and less interested in taking up this new opportunity. Imposter syndrome can also cause relationship issues. In relationships with imposter syndrome, there may be a higher tendency for one of the partners to constantly seek reassurance due to self doubt, therefore placing a strain on the relationship. In order to further understand Imposter syndrome, we need to view and be aware of why it happens in the first place.
Imposter syndrome is caused by numerous different factors. However the most common are personality traits, how one is raised, and generally feeling like an outsider. Everyone is born with a different personality and some just generally have a higher tendency to see things in a more complex and overcomplicated way. The way parents raise an individual also plays a big part as certain parents have certain goals and expectations for their children, adding extra pressure to their already filled lives. Teens and school students are not the only people that imposter syndrome affects. It is most common in schools and in the workplace, since individuals are always competing to go to the next level. It is also very common in females, marginalized groups, and individuals pursuing medicine or health as a future career. Imposter syndrome can be seen in examples like the one mentioned above with the college student to simple examples like a kindergartener wanting to be first in line and prove their leadership against classmates, even though they have nothing to prove.
Now that the causes, symptoms, and characteristics of Imposter syndrome have been laid out, we can acknowledge and take steps to fix it. The first steps of overcoming most negative feelings are recognizing that you have them. Doing a simple Imposter syndrome quiz like this or just a simple examination of self can help you realize if you have and deal with this issue. Next, if you do realize you have imposter syndrome, you can take these simple steps like the ones from WebMd listed below to help shift your mindset.
Remind yourself of achievements: All achievements, big or small, should be constantly recognized and give you a boat to not only self esteem but also ensure you that your achievements and accomplishments are not inferior.
Do not compare yourself to others: Nobody is perfect. Instead of constantly looking at other people, look at yourself. Take time alone to see who you truly are and to delve into what you truly like.
Constantly Challenge Yourself: Always be up to a new challenge; to learn and grow. Do not hold yourself back from growth opportunities, because chances are, this opportunity will be the one to lead you to a prosperous life. However you will have no idea if you never try.
Talk to like – minded people: It really helps to talk to people struggling with the same issue or even people who share the same passions and interests as you. After realizing you are not the only one struggling, you will start to be more open minded and realize that this feeling is a basic part of human nature.
