Imposter syndrome—or IS—is a phenomenon that can affect anyone of any age. However, this syndrome is most prominently seen in high-achieving individuals. Those that experience this have difficulty internalizing their abilities and successes, thus they begin feeling self-doubt. This leads to high levels of anxiety, depression, and apprehension in their work.

Despite evidence to suggest the contrary, people struggling with imposter syndrome feel like frauds. They begin to believe a false narrative about themselves that suggests they do not deserve any rewards or recognition they have received and think that their achievements must be short-lived and due only to luck.

Individuals who internally fight this battle are oftentimes stuck in a cycle that keeps them in an endless loop of second-guessing and beating themselves up.

5 Components of the Imposter Cycle

The imposter cycle a person goes through can be categorized in two ways: procrastination and over-preparation.

With procrastination, these individuals feel rushed to prepare and believe they will fail due to this, leading them to believe that they will be seen as a fraud. On the other hand, with over-preparation, they see themselves as an imposter because they believe that they need to put in extra effort to achieve the same goal as someone else.

1. Perfectionistic

People with imposter syndrome tend to be very competitive and exhibit perfectionist characteristics and behaviors. They’re seen with unrealistic expectations of themselves and typically move their personal goalposts to become more and more unobtainable. This leads to additional disappointment and solidifies in their mind that they are not good enough.

2. Superhero Mindset

The superhero mindset contains the need to always be the best. People with these traits seem to over-prepare themselves for tasks so they can outwardly appear capable of completing them. This unnecessary workload ends up taking a toll on their stamina and mental health.

3. Fear of Failure

Individuals with IS compare themselves to others when tasked with a job to do. Their fear of failing, not living up to perceived potential, or doing worse than another person leads them down a path of anxiety where they are faced with the possibility of experiencing humiliation or embarrassment.

4. Denial

Those struggling with this syndrome internalize failure and deny their abilities to themselves. They equate any success they might obtain with luck, chance, or external influence.

5. Fear of Success

The fear of success that those in this cycle struggle with have extreme difficulty recognizing their own accomplishments. Success is seen as a hurdle that would cause them to have higher expectations and heavier workloads. (Reference 1)

Strategies to Fighting the Fraud

Imposter syndrome is not limited to people in the workplace. It can come up in your home life, at school, and even in your relationships. And, the impact this can have on your mental health can be quite significant.

You may begin experiencing:

Higher levels of anxiety
Feelings of depression
Frustration
Lack of confidence and increased shame (Reference 2)

According to renowned psychologist Dr. Albers, fighting back against IS begins with recognizing your potential and owning your achievements.

A few recommendations to help you navigate through this include:

Separating your feelings from the facts (write it all down, if needed)
Taking note of all of your accomplishments - and own them!
Stop comparing yourself to other people
Talking through your feelings with a person you trust
Speaking with a therapist, if all else fails (Reference 3)

MHT: Helping You Help Your Patients

Obtaining a mental health diagnosis for a patient as a primary care physician is difficult and time-consuming. There are no vitals or lab tests that can give you a proper answer.

MHT’s screening assessments for behavioral health conditions are sent straight to your patient to be completed in the comfort of their own home. This allows them all the time they need to carefully think about their answers and provide you with the most accurate information you need to give them the proper care.

Results are automatically uploaded to the patient’s electronic health record and, if needed, referrals are made for you. You can finally breathe a sigh of relief knowing your patients are receiving the help they need.

To talk more about how MHT works, contact us today. We look forward to speaking with you.

Resources:

Face Your Fear of Fraudulence: Navigating Imposter Syndrome