Whether I see clients for stress or anxiety, there is often a running theme - Impostor syndrome.
Impostor syndrome is a common phenomenon that affects many people across any profession or background. Indeed, I have worked with top lawyers, teachers, nurses
and many senior managers, to name a few. In fact, the International journal of Behavioural Science has written that an estimated 70% of people experience Impostor syndrome at some point.
So what exactly is Impostor Syndrome? Well, it is defined as a feeling of inadequacy, self-doubt and incompetence despite your education or experience. Would you believe that when it was first identified in 1978, psychologists believed only women were affected!
Impostor syndrome can be a major barrier to personal and professional growth, as it leads people to question their achievements, avoid taking risks, and limiting their full potential. As I see all the time, it can also cause feelings of anxiety, stress and depression, and make it difficult for people to own their success and feel confident in their abilities. You see, anxiety and stress is just a symptom of something else going on. When we get to the root cause, it involves impostor syndrome - which itself is a symptom of something else.
There are generally 5 main signs or characteristics of Impostor Syndrome:
Perfectionist: - people have such high expectations of themselves that unless they get 100% of things right 100% of the time, they will feel like failures
'No helpers': - people that feel they can't delegate or ask for help as otherwise they would feel like a fraud or a failure
Working harder: - there are people that feel like they need to put more hours in than everyone else. Perhaps they feel they are not as good as everyone else so they work harder or longer hours to compensate. Maybe they push themselves as they feel they need to succeed in everything they do. Not achieving this makes them anxious and stressed.
High achievers: - if high achievers or naturally competent people are used to success but then struggle or feel they need to work hard to achieve something, then this can cause them to feel inadequate
Not polished: - when people feel that they have to gain more skills before they feel they are worthy of starting a new project - that feeling of never quite being good enough to take that next step. This can also cross over to other situations - an example could be not going for a job application as you don't tick every single box. Perhaps they never speak up in meetings for feeling they will ask a question that they think they should know the answer to.
If you examine the characteristics above, it is easy to see why Impostor Syndrome can make someone anxious and stressed if they are dealing with these thoughts and feelings.
The roots of impostor syndrome can be traced back to several factors, including perfectionism, internalized negative self-talk, and societal and cultural influences.
In my experience, there are many causes but I often see that it is due to criticism or self doubt caused by a specific event or conversation. An example I see periodically is when a client has been criticised by a manager. That is enough to knock your confidence for years, despite all the good work you have done
One of the key ways to overcome impostor syndrome is to challenge the negative thoughts and beliefs that lead to feelings of self-doubt. This can involve questioning evidence for and against your thoughts, seeking out positive feedback and experiences, and focusing on your successes rather than your failures.
Another important strategy is to embrace and practice self-compassion. This means being kind and understanding towards yourself, recognizing that everyone experiences setbacks and failures, and focusing on your strengths and accomplishments.
Impostor syndrome can be a debilitating experience, but it can be overcome. By challenging negative thoughts, seeking support, and practicing self-compassion, you can increase your confidence and build resilience in the face of self-doubt.
People often need help with negative self talk and sabotaging self beliefs. If you need help, lets have a chat. Past clients have overcome blocks to get new jobs, promotions and successfully complete post grad courses.
You can book an assessment call here with me, Stephen Bissett