Do you have trouble accepting compliments?
Do you ever feel like any success you receive is purely out of luck?
Do you think you aren't authorized to do anything you do regularly?
Even if you answer no to these questions, you more than likely know someone who would say "yes" (he may be the creator of this article).
People all over possess self-doubt. It's become a part of human nature (for some reason). But for some people, their self-doubt manifests as a unique psychological phenomenon called "imposter syndrome."
This syndrome is not an official case in the DSM but has been recognized as a real phenomenon since the 1970s. To put it simply, imposter syndrome is a specific form of self-doubt that comes from people that cannot believe their success. The person feels like the success, or praise they receive is not rightfully earned, and they worry the people around them will see them as a phony.
The American Psychological Association (APA) notes, "impostor phenomenon occurs among high achievers who are unable to internalize and accept their success. They often attribute their accomplishments to luck rather than to ability, and fear that others will eventually unmask them as a fraud." Congratulations, if you connect with this definition of imposter syndrome, that more than likely means you are a successful person and just can't see it.
What makes imposter syndrome unique is the fraudulent aspect of the self-doubt. The fear of being unmasked acts as an unusual motivator for people that deal with imposter syndrome, but still struggle with self-doubt and anxiety from it. The people who worry about being "found out" may channel that anxiety into productive energy, even though the base thoughts are unhealthy.
Perfectionism typically accompanies imposter syndrome because the "imposter" feels the need to be at their best 110% of the time. However, these two traits can be a powerful motivator or incredibly detrimental towards a person's success.
The APA mentions, "The impostor phenomenon and perfectionism often go hand in hand. So-called impostors think every task they tackle has to be done perfectly, and they rarely ask for help. That perfectionism can lead to two typical responses, according to Clance. An impostor may procrastinate, putting off an assignment out of fear that he or she won't be able to complete it to the necessary high standards. Or, he or she may overprepare, spending much more time on a task than is necessary."
As someone that falls into this double category, I can say that the accuracy of the two responses is painful. Perfectionism is a blessing and curse, and being coupled with imposter syndrome is quite the challenge.
However, I have no authority to tell you why imposter syndrome happens or how to fix it (and that's not because of my imposter syndrome, but because I literally don't have the qualification to give that advice). The purpose of this article is to do the first step for you: make you aware that your feelings have a name, and other people feel the same way.
