What is Imposter Syndrome?

Written by Tim and Katherine Bonaldi, In Bloom Psychology

It is natural to have insecurities from time to time, however Imposter Syndrome is when we are driven by our insecurities to the point we feel like frauds in our relationships, work and lives. Imposter syndrome can make us feel undeserving of good things that happen to us and that we are never good enough. Imposture syndrome is commonly associated with anxiety, depression or trauma.

Can you relate to any signs of imposter syndrome:

- Feeling uncomfortable with compliments to the point of rejecting them

- Having a strong inner critic/negative views of self

- Regularly putting yourself down in front of others

- Comparing yourself to others and never feeling up to scratch

- Not feeling deserving of a healthy relationship

- Not feeling worthy of a fulfilling career

- Seeking excessive validation of your worth through others

- Striving for perfection to make up for feeling inadequate

- Wanting to settle for less instead of taking a healthy risk

- Accepting poor behaviour from others because you feel poorly of yourself

- Attempting to prove your worth by over achieving

- Being inauthentic for fear that others would reject your true self

Origins of imposter syndrome:

We learn to see ourselves in a distorted way through our experiences or conditioning. Babies are not born to feel inadequate or undeserving. If you relate to some signs of imposter syndrome, it can be helpful to consider your own conditioning and how it has shaped you:

- Being raised in an environment where you were constantly compared to siblings in a negative way

- Experiencing bullying at school and not being protected by adults

- Being in harsh, demanding and competitive environments

- Being pressured to overachieve

- Experiencing childhood neglect (emotionally or in a practical way)

- Emotional abuse in terms of frequent put downs, harsh criticism, or being told you are not good enough

- Experiencing workplace bullying

- Sexual or physical abuse that may lead you to believing that your worth is reflected by how other’s treat you

Steps to overcome imposter syndrome:

-Understanding both your strengths and weaknesses in a compassionate way

-Acting from a place of worthiness and prioritizing self-care

-Understanding the origins of imposter syndrome and healing those wounds

-Taking healthy risks to explore fulfillment and being your true self

-Setting boundaries with people or environments that are undermining your well-being

CBT, Schema therapy, or Self-compassion therapy can assist with these steps.

If you need support in overcoming your imposture syndrome, feel free to contact Tim or Katherine Bonaldi at In Bloom Psychology.

References:

https://www.verywellmind.com/imposter-syndrome-and-social-anxiety-disorder-4156469

https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/imposter-syndrome#causes

Young, J. & Klosko, J. (2019). Re-inventing your life.