Understanding Imposter Syndrome: A Deep Dive into the Feeling of Fraudulence

Have you ever felt like a fraud? Have you ever felt like you have no clue what you are doing and that you are duping yourself and others ? No matter how much experience you gain, how much positive feedback you get, no matter the fruitful results of your work , you still feel like a fraud.

I often find myself questioning what I have to offer. Whether it was in my old job as a therapist, or in my current job as a trainer or even as a ceramic artist. It’s such a weird feeling. The more I do, the less competent I feel.

As I sit and think about this topic, I come to realize and question if this had anything to do with my career change. I remember leaving my therapy sessions feeling confused and unsure if I had been of any help to my clients. I kept wondering if I should do something else for a living , as I am probably not a good fit as a therapist.

But here I am, I changed careers, studied, gained experience and 6 years down the line, the same thoughts and feelings came back. Am I a good trainer? Am i doing things right? Maybe I should do something else for a living… And it goes on and on…

Imposter syndrome is a psychological phenomenon where people doubt their accomplishments. There is a constant fear of being exposed as a ‘fraud’  despite evidence of them being competent.This internal struggle often leads to feelings of anxiety, inadequacy, and self-doubt, impacting both personal and professional lives.

This is a feeling that both pushes me to do more, but at the same time stands in my way of pursuing things by fear of not being good enough.

What Does It Feel Like?

It’s such a complex feeling. I find myself often questioning my skills and my knowledge and most of the time when I achieve something , I feel almost undeserving of it.

On top of that, there is this constant fear that someone will discover how much of a fraud I am and that whatever service I am offering is flawed.

Even if for example I see my clients progressing, I start to question if it was my help or other factors, even though the facts are clear.

This constant feeling of not being good enough often drives me (and other people who feel the same) to overachieve, to always do more as a way of compensation. This leads to burnout more often than not.

The sad part about this whole thing is that when we put in the work and succeed in something, we downplay it instead of soaking in the win.

The Psychology Behind Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome isn’t officially classified as a mental health disorder, but it has significant effects on a person’s well being and self worth.

This was discovered in the 1970s by Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes primarily among high-achieving women. Since then, studies have shown that it affects individuals from any gender or background.

Why does the imposter syndrome develop? Here are some factors that contribute to this odd phenomenon like perfectionism when one sets extremely high standards and fails to meet them. There’s also family dynamics that come into play. If you grew up in an environment that emphasizes achievement, you can develop internal pressure to succeed and then feel like a fraud if you don’t.

Also, working in a competitive environment where little or no support is provided can create and accentuate feeling inadequate. Last but not least, the level of social immersion we face nowadays increase the risk of comparing ourselves to others, which can create feelings of inferiority.

It goes without saying that the impact of feeling this way constantly can lead to depression and anxiety.

Coping Strategies

1- Normalize feeling this way. A LOT of people do!

2- Reframe your thoughts. Challenge your negative self-talk and focus on your strengths and accomplishments

3- Talk it out with someone. Talking about these feelings with trusted colleagues, friends, or a mental health professional can provide validation and perspective.

4- Most importantly SELF COMPASSION ! Cultivating a forgiving attitude toward oneself can reduce feelings of inadequacy.

If you ever feel this way, know that you are not alone. Acknowledging this and normalizing it is the first step to overcoming it !