Do you ever feel intense doubt? A deep anxiety about not being enough? Fear that someone will discover it, as though you are an imposter just waiting for someone to uncover the fraud?  

If this sounds familiar to you, it may be that you’re experiencing a bout of imposter syndrome.  

What is imposter syndrome?  

Imposter Syndrome is a type of anxiety frequently experienced by overachievers. It is intense anxiety regarding your value, particularly to an employer, program, or team. People who suffer from imposter syndrome fear that they are not good enough for the position they are in, whether it is on a sports team, a work team, or an academic program, and they experience anxiety about the rest of the team finding out. It is common among people who have recently moved from one level to a higher level – such as someone who has just made a higher rank in their sport, or someone who has recently graduated from school and started working. Although the person suffering knows that they have objectively met the criteria for the position they are in, they feel as though they are not good enough for it. Therefore, they are, “imposters.”  

What does imposter syndrome mean?  

Experiencing a bout of imposter syndrome simply means that you are struggling with confidence with a position that you really, really want to have. People typically experience imposter syndrome when they are have reached a new position in life – something they have worked for. The anxiety is about losing this position due to not actually being good enough for it. While there is a lack of confidence inherent in the experience of imposter syndrome, it can happen to people who are confident in who they are and in other areas of their lives. It can also occur in healthy people who are not experiencing any other mental health problems. Imposter syndrome just means that you have something that you do not want to lose.  

Can overachievers use anxiety therapy to treat imposter syndrome? 

Yes! Imposter syndrome is a form of anxiety, so anxiety treatment is the perfect solution! An anxiety therapist will give you tools to manage the anxiety associated with imposter syndrome.

The first step is to notice when it is happening. Notice your thoughts. Are you experiencing fear of being “found out?” Do you have fears that someone will call you out in front of people? That you’ll suddenly start making mistakes? Notice your experience of imposter syndrome. It’s a little different for everyone.  

 The next step is to think objectively about your performance. What got you here? How did you earn your place? Was it truly a fluke, or did you work for it? Try to be as objective as possible. When your inner critic starts arguing with you, ignore it. Continue listing the objective criteria that got you where you are today.  

 Once that is done, remind yourself that the feelings associated with imposter syndrome do not indicate that you are unworthy of your position. It just means that you really want to be here and you really want to do well. Imposter syndrome is not indicative of mental illness and typically goes away with time.  

How can you help a loved one who may be experiencing imposter syndrome? 

The best way is to remind the person of clear, detailed, and objective reasons why they are in the position they are in. For example, if someone has qualified for a national-level sports competition, remind them of the steps they took to get there. Remind them not only of how hard they worked and how good they are, but also of the qualification criteria that they met. The key is to be clear and detailed. Platitudes like, “you’re the best” won’t work because the person is already feeling like they aren’t. They may assume that you also realize they are an imposter and are trying to help them to feel better about that. The most effective comments will be detailed. “You graduated with high honors and were offered your position at a good starting pay before you finished school” is clear, detailed, and difficult to argue with.  

Is imposter syndrome a mental-health disorder?  

Imposter syndrome is not an official mental-health disorder, but anxiety treatment can still help. This type of anxiety can happen to anyone, and it does not mean that mental-health support is required. If the symptoms of anxiety persist, or make it difficult to manage daily life, speaking to a mental health professional may help. If you’re in the Denver or Colorado Springs area, click the button below to contact me. You can email me a question, or schedule a free 15-minute consultation. There’s no obligation, so why don’t you reach out today?