Have you ever felt like a fraud?

What is Imposter Syndrome?

Ever felt like you’re struggling at work because you feel like a fraud, and any minute now you’re about to be found out because you really don’t know what you’re doing?

You have?

Don’t worry, there are thousands of people out there like you who feel exactly the same, but help is at hand!  Impostor syndrome is a common problem lots of people encounter which can be exhausting and frustrating to deal with, but there are solutions, here at Fadi Counselling we can provide you with coping strategies to overcome these feelings.

What are the symptoms of Imposter Syndrome?

Do you struggle to recognise your own accomplishments and feel like you’re deceiving those around you, or that your success is an illusion and you really don’t deserve it? If so, you may well be suffering from “imposter syndrome”.

What to look out for that may indicate you’re suffering from Imposter syndrome; –

• You may think your success has arisen purely by chance and not as a result of your own abilities
• You discredit your own achievements
• You think you’ve only succeeded because you had help
• When you receive praise, you think people are being insincere
• You believe anyone could do your job just as well
• You think that a failure is never acceptable
• You’re a perfectionist, and you constantly struggle with it

If you recognise any of these traits in yourself, then it’s likely you will be suffering from Imposter syndrome.

Who is vulnerable to it?

The reality is anyone can experience it, men and women are equally susceptible. Leading researcher Dr Valerie Young, (co-founder of the Impostor Syndrome Institute and widely recognised as the foremost expert on the subject), has identified 5 main categories which people fall into, see if you can identify with any of the following;-

The perfectionist

• Your focus is mainly on how you perform, to the extent of demanding perfection from yourself in everything you do.
• As perfection isn’t always realistic, instead of acknowledging to yourself the hard work you’ve put in you will self-criticize and see your small mistakes as some kind of failure. 
• You avoid trying new things if you can’t achieve perfection the first time.

  The natural genius

• You pick up new skills easily, and therefore believe you should understand new processes right away.
• You believe that competent people can handle anything with little difficulty, and feel like a fraud when you don’t.
• If something doesn’t come easily to you, or you fail to succeed on your first try, you might feel ashamed and embarrassed.

     The rugged soloist

• You believe you should be able to handle everything on your own. If you can’t achieve success independently, you consider yourself unworthy.
• Asking someone for help, or accepting support when it’s offered, doesn’t just mean failing your own high standards. It also means admitting your inadequacies and showing yourself as a failure.

     The expert

• Before you can view yourself as a success, you want to know everything there is to know about the subject, which can divert you from the main task at hand. 
• You believe you should have all the answers, so might consider yourself a fraud or a failure if you find that you don’t. 

The superhero

• You link competence to your ability to succeed in every part of your life role you may hold; – friend, employee, boss, husband/wife etc. If you fall down in any of these, it only proves to you your inadequacy. 
• To succeed, then, you push yourself to the limit, expending as much energy as possible in every role.
• Still, even this maximum effort may not resolve your imposter feelings. You might think, “I should be able to do more,” or “This should be easier.”

So what treatments are available?

Imposter Syndrome can have a significantly negative impact on your mental health and wellness. Many people will experience anxiety from the constant self-imposed pressure associated with it.

If you are struggling with Imposter Syndrome and other related issues, online therapy or a face-to-face meeting with one of our counsellors is a proven effective method to counteract the symptoms.

At Fadi counselling, we can get to the root cause of your imposter patterns and work through the mental and emotional hurdles that may be holding you back. We can provide you with the necessary tools to break your cycle of thinking and help you manage distressing emotions brought on by imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome doesn’t have to be a part of your life….it’s up to you, we’re only a phone call away!