Ever Feel Like You Are Living a Lie? It May Be Time Consider; What is Imposter Syndrome?
Impostor Feelings? What are Those?
Have you ever felt like you weren’t enough?
That you aren’t the person, everyone else sees?
That your existence is like a fraud, not the result of your hard work and relentless dedication? That you could and should be doing more to earn the title you have amongst co-workers, family, or even friends? You are not alone.
Research suggests you are likely experiencing the phenomenon known as imposter syndrome.
Imposter vs. Impostor Syndrome; What’s the Difference?
Before diving into the specifics of impostor feelings and the side effects of the phenomenon, we must first make a critical distinction.
What is the difference between “imposter syndrome” and “impostor syndrome?” Or, impostor feelings vs. imposter feelings are all the same. There is no difference between one form of impostor phenomenon or the other. However, there are several ways the condition may manifest in an individual. Although confusing, both spelling imposter/impostor methods are used interchangeably through national and international journal entries to describe and discuss this mental curiosity.
The difference in spelling variation has developed over time as graduate students and citizens alike have written the word according to sound or unintended preference. Both impostor and imposter are used in American academic and professional contexts today. There is no distinction to be made between the two forms of spelling.
But regardless of spelling formats and preferences, what do psychology and behavioral science have to say about impostor feelings and the triggers that onset them?
What is Imposter Syndrome?
An impostor phenomenon is a distortion affecting an individual’s mental wellness.
Widespread amongst many demographic variations and backgrounds, an international journal of behavioral studies would define imposter syndrome as “the persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s efforts or skills.”
They are loosely finding definition in its ability to make individuals doubt their achievements and capabilities. Many people who struggle with imposter syndrome report that they feel like a fraud; typically, believing they are undeserving of acclimations at work, school, or in their social circle. As a result, they often work relentlessly to make themselves worthy of the benefits they hold.
While this distortive thought pattern might appear or seem to be similar to other mental illnesses, imposter syndrome stands within its own parameters. It is a condition born from an entirely internal distortion of personal design. But it is not a form of mental illness.
Defining the Imposter Phenomenon
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not recognize imposter syndrome as a form of mental disorder, but why?
The imposter phenomenon affects many areas of an individual’s mental state, often causing them to alter their daily actions to accommodate their self-doubting feelings. Many individuals feel the imposter phenomenon should qualify it for consideration as a form of mental condition.
But, unlike other forms of mental illness, imposter phenomenons are just that, a curiosity of the mind that can have links to early family dynamics, genetics, social construct, and more. Still, they can also occur with no identifiable cause.
Likewise, although there are ways for an individual to use mindfulness training to overcome imposter syndrome, it is possible to stop feeling like a fraud without extensive therapeutic intervention.
A mental condition refers to symptoms and the physical health implications they can onset. A phenomenon or syndrome refers only to the inconsistent variables of symptoms with no proximate cause.
As imposter syndrome often has no direct cause, with nearly no physical implications, it is simply a phenomenon instead of a health disorder.
How Many People Suffer From Imposter Syndrome?
The puzzle that is impostor syndrome has been studied widely over the years.
The spectacle’s origin and unique disposition to those it affects impacts various demographics from minority groups to larger populations. But typically, the condition most commonly affects high-achieving women and men.
A systematic review of the impostor phenomenon and its statistics have produced results that after 62 rounds of varied testing-imposter syndrome was detected in rates ranging from 9% to 82%. The symptoms of the condition present in all genders, careers, lifestyles and are strongly linked to those who simultaneously suffer from anxiety and depression, and other mental health problems.
Some believe the societal pressure to “do more,” “be more,” and “have more” may play a role in this mentality development for some. Individuals go to great lengths to appease others and make themselves feel more worthy of greatness. We sacrifice our mental health for unattainable standards and status, but that does not always mean we are struggling with a case of imposter syndrome.
So, how can you tell when you experience impostor feelings?
What Are The Signs Of Imposter Syndrome?
A phenomenon that significantly affects confidence in our own abilities, the impostor phenomenon can produce a wide variety of symptoms in individual’s wrestling with the syndrome, including:
- Relentless doubt
- The incapability of realistic self-assessment
- Constantly feeling stressed
- Beliving obtaining success is impossible for yourself
- Displaying high anxiety and OCD levels
- Low confidence in oneself abilities
- Feeling like a phony
- Feeling you don’t deserve the title or benefits of the position you are in
- Overly negative self-perception
- Propensity to “sabotage self”
- Setting unrealistic goals for yourself time and time again
Those who wrestle with the impostor phenomenon may also attribute their success to pure luck or other external factors and fear they will not live up to expectations.
Impostor Phenomenon Effects on Feelings, Self Confidence and More
Although it does not often produce physical side effects, imposter syndrome can heavily impact an individual’s feelings of aptitude and confidence.
This can lead an individual to internalize many negative self-thoughts and depreciative emotions. Which often pushes people to become:
- Overachievers
- Perfectionists
- Work-o-holics
Individuals who wrestle with these chronic fraudulent feelings are generally no stranger to intense, high-pressure work environments like athletes, lawyers, doctors, and first responders. These individuals typically make it a life mission of theirs to over-succeed. These high achievers then struggle with making even the most minor mistakes. They find constructive criticism to be a nearly unbearable sign of failure. And it is challenging for them to extend grace and compassion to themselves.
Individuals who struggle with imposter syndrome do not expect others to match their hunger for perfection. They often feel ashamed of themselves for even the slightest misunderstandings or an inability to master a new skill quickly.
Imposter feelings come in a range of manifestations.
Regardless of your level of success, imposter syndrome can creep in and manipulate your state of mind anytime. Consequently, it is altering your self-perceptions to the point that you are no longer aware of your true worth and capabilities.
Do Imposter Feelings Occur in Academic Achievement, Gender Differences, Work of Social Context?
All of the above.
For many years, mental health professionals and behavioral science researchers believed that the impostor phenomenon could be associated with ethnic minorities, age, and sex differences. Specialists thought that young adults, ethnic minority individuals, and high achieving women were the exclusive populations in the United States to experience imposter syndrome. But in more recent years, these social and gender stereotypes have been debunked.
The feelings of self-doubt, anxiety and inner perceived fraudulence resulting from impostor syndrome can occur in all social and professional contexts to individuals of any age, ethnic group, or gender.
True, in some circumstances, an individual’s personality traits, life experience, genetics, or even early childhood development can influence their developing impostor syndrome. Still, there is no one specific cause to onset the phenomenon to occur.
Addiction, Mental Illness, Imposter Syndrome; How Do They Mix?
Although impostor syndrome is not a recognized form of mental illness, that does not mean the condition and its symptoms may not be present alongside a mental disease.
There are five common manifestations of impostor feelings, including:
- The natural genius
- The perfectionist
- The expert
- The soloist
- The superhero
With each of these designations in impostor syndrome, you can find various people. It is true that high achieving men and women experience impostor symptoms more frequently than other populations in the United States. But individuals who struggle with drug and alcohol addictions may also wrestle with the condition.
Addiction can occur in high or low-profile settings to individuals of all backgrounds.
When these individuals finally decide to pursue recovery, they may begin to struggle with feelings of fraudulence as they experience other people’s compassion for themselves and the mistakes they make. Trying to overcome addiction as you wrestle with the imposter occurrence can prove highly challenging, but that does not mean recovery is made impossible.
Individuals who struggle with the sensation will need to work a little harder, listening more attentively in their therapy sessions to learn how impostorism can affect their mental wellness and recovery journey.
How To Overcome Imposter Syndrome?
Developing imposter syndrome can impact individuals in all life paths, which is no exception for individuals in recovery.
Maybe you or a loved one is in recovery or has gone through several rounds of detoxing and withdrawal. And perhaps along the way, there was a relapse or slip up, which has begun to make you feel frustrated with yourself and the progress you are making in rehab. Maybe now you start to manifest feelings of unworthiness.
You feel as though you are undeserving of sobriety and healthy life.
But this is untrue.
Self-worth and our personal view of ourselves are greatly distorted when substance abuse comes into play. As time passes, it becomes more and more difficult for us to see ourselves for the way we are-not what addiction, society, and stigma say we are.
The good news is, there is a way to combat imposter syndrome!
Essential Steps to Take When Fighting Impostor Feelings for Your Mental Health
Building Positive Thought Patterns and Mindfulness Can Take Time; Worth It
So, how can we begin challenging our negative self-thoughts and beating the impostor phenomenon?
Take Action!
- Talk it out:
- Seeking professional help is not a sign of weakness but inherent strength. Seeking treatment such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be incredibly useful in helping one to rewire old thought patterns and start anew. There is no shame or embarrassment associated with reaching out to others for help. The first step is to recognize; the second step is to accept and begin the healing process.
- Assess yourself:
- Take a few uninterrupted minutes to write down all of your accomplished goals and achievements that you can think of; not all need to be Oscar-worthy. The capacity to get up in the morning and complete tasks for yourself and others is a form of success. Spreading compassion and love is a success. Don’t let comparison lead to your demise. You are you and no one else. You should be proud of all you have accomplished, no matter how small.
- Create a plan:
- Ask yourself where you want to be: Where do you want to see yourself in 6 months? One year? Create a mental picture for yourself. If you can visualize it, you can become it.
- Ask friends and family for feedback:
- You might not feel inclined to acquire input from individuals close to you. Still, these people can give you a more accurate depiction of yourself than anyone else. If they say you are good at cooking or did terrific with the presentation at school, choose to believe them and what they tell you.
The internal change will never come to fruition if we do not actively shift our patterns. We cannot wait in anticipation for changes to appear-we must be dedicated to our efforts for change to come.
Trying to do more to overcome impostorism will never work in our favor.
Remember everything that begins and ends in the mind. To beat impostor feelings, you need to choose to slow down and decide how you want to live your life.
Combat imposter syndrome by learning to recognize your success, no matter how minor. If we neglect the small wins in life-how can we genuinely appreciate the bigger ones?
You Can Better Your Mental Health, Move Past Imposter Syndrome
Negative Thoughts can Fuel Feelings, but Realistic Assessment Can Help Repair Low Self-Esteem
We all tend to be our own inner critic.
We constantly question our own abilities, downplay our success, or moments of natural genius. We overthink our external factors of achievement, others’ perceptions of ourselves, etc. We give in to perceived discrimination to overplay a small mistake when we don’t do things perfectly.
But even striving for perfection often does not quiet our feelings of inadequacy.
Intrusive thoughts such as these typically pertain to a work context. Still, they can also affect our social interactions, significantly aggravating our internal experience with life. The good news is, therapeutic intervention can help lead people like ourselves to reconstruct our thought processes when we experience impostor feelings. Mindful reconstruction allows us to recognize our good personality traits, refrain from obsessing over perceived personal incompetence, and even bridge gaps in a professional and social context.
Imposter feelings have us obsessively question our own merits, making us feel like a fraud.
But ultimately, it comes down to us to stop chasing perfectionism.
How Can Rehabilitation Aide Imposter Syndrome?
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome Can Involve Talking to A Therapist
Even so, speaking with someone in a professional environment can do wonders in helping us productively work through negative thoughts.
Research suggests that utilizing talk therapy and mindfulness training to combat impostorism can help people learn to be compassionate with themselves, allowing room for growth and healing.
With the help of the American psychiatric association, peer-reviewed studies, private practice, academic literature, other veins of therapeutic approach, and mindful discovery, we can learn to work beyond the imposter feelings we experience. An official diagnosis of imposter syndrome can lead mental health professionals to utilize behavioral science in an academic or professional environment to create a personalized approach to treatment.
Individuals seeking drug or alcohol use disorder treatment generally have these professional resources readily available in rehab, making combating impostor syndrome alongside substance abuse a tangible goal.
John’s Recovery Place Builds Self Compassion, Self Confidence, Combats Self Doubt to Beat the Impostor Cycle in Drug and Alcohol addiction treatment
Is St, John’s Right for You?
Here at St. John’s Recovery Place, we believe in the power of holistic therapy and healing as critical parts of the addiction recovery process.
Healing and change begin from the inside out. There is no such thing as a bandaid solution or “easy fix.” The formula to create long-term, consistent change involves time, patience, and the ability to face ones’ greatest fears.
It is widespread for individuals on the path to recovery to experience feelings of “unworthiness.” Many feel “undeserving” of the treatment and care they are receiving, and they may feel the care is “wasted” on them and that they are frauds for being in rehab.
But this is not true!
We are all unique individuals and deserve a full life of health and wellness. We all deserve opportunities to grow and become our best selves. Imposter syndrome can easily seep into any mindset, creating self-doubt and anxiety. But it doesn’t need to define our lives.
Don’t let impostorism or addiction take control; we can help!
Call us today at 1-833-397-3422 to learn more about our therapeutic interventions and holistic healing practices. You won’t regret looking at our drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility. It could be perfect for you or your loved one struggling with addiction and impostor feelings to recover in.
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