Have you ever felt out of place at university? Perhaps you’ve attended a seminar and thought everyone knows what’s going on apart from you. And most days you end up feeling defeated, thinking you don’t belong here. Sounds familiar? Then you’re probably suffering from imposter syndrome.
What is imposter syndrome?
Imposter syndrome involves feeling like a fraud despite evidence of success. People who suffer believe that their accomplishments are down to luck and they have a persistent fear of being found out. In other words they don’t think they belong; that they’re an ‘imposter’.
What causes imposter syndrome?
Imposter syndrome is caused by a number of reasons. These can include your upbringing, background and environment. But anyone can feel this way and, in fact, a lot of people do. Up to 70% of people experience imposter syndrome at some point in their lives. Imposterism is common amongst students. Especially first generation students and those from working class backgrounds who attend prestigious universities.
How is imposter syndrome harmful?
Imposter syndrome raises feelings of self-doubt and failure. These feelings are persistent and often lead to mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. There’s a lot of research on the negative affects of long term depression such as poor physical health. As well as how it impairs workplace performance.
But don’t get too freaked out! There are ways you can manage these feelings and being aware of them is a good place to start.
How to deal with imposterism
Remember your achievements
Imposter syndrome gives you tunnel vision. You’re so focused on what you think you can’t do that you forget what you actually have done. If you’re reading this, you’ve most likely passed your A-levels, got into university and worked hard to do so. Even if you don’t believe it, you do deserve to be there. So every time you have doubts, make a physical or mental note of everything you’ve done so far.
Set realistic goals
People suffering from imposter syndrome often feel like they have to prove themselves. As a result, they often set unrealistic targets to reach. And when they don’t immediately meet them, it must mean they’ve failed. It is so easy to be caught up in future plans that you forget current successes. So to combat this, set realistic and daily goals. Ticking them off will make you feel productive and more assured that you can succeed.
Talk to someone
Whether it’s a friend or a therapist, opening up to someone is always helpful. You’ll know you aren’t alone and that many others have felt exactly the same. You can find comfort in the shared experience and realise you’re not an outsider.
Make mistakes
Perfectionists are likely to experience imposter syndrome. Having unrealistically high expectations will make you more likely to experience self-doubt when you don’t meet them. So try to make some mistakes. Messing up is not only normal, but beneficial for learning. Let go of your fear and you’ll realise the only person judging you is yourself.
Remember
Imposter syndrome doesn’t care how successful or smart you are, it can happen to anyone at any time. But awareness is a step-forward and hopefully now you’re better equipped to fight it.