What is Imposter Syndrome?
Imposter Syndrome is the psychological term given to those who suffer feelings of guilt about their lives, even though they have attained their life goals. It commonly affects high achievers, and leaves a person with negative thoughts, feelings and emotions — even though they are doing everything correctly in their lives.
Examples of Imposter Syndrome
The best way to understand Imposter Syndrome is to learn more details about the lives and goals of people who suffer from this mental ailment.
Example #1: A young woman who has studied all her life, and spent years in school to be a food scientist has achieved her goals and has a coveted job as a nutritional biologist. However, the young woman does not feel like she fits into the job (even though she is excelling at it), and feels like she does not deserver the position she is in.
The young woman fears “getting deeper” into the field and feels like eventually she will one day fail and let everything in her life come tumbling down. She also feels like many of her peers during school deserve the success she has achieved much more than she deserves it. She may be suffering from Imposter Syndrome.
Example #2: A man has been working a new job, in a new field, for the past 6 months. Although he had no experience in the plumbing field, he accepted the opportunity and impressed everyone (even himself) with the way he naturally and quickly learned the basics of plumbing.
His good attitude and work ethic helped him to quickly ascend the ranks in the business, moving ahead of employees who have worked there longer than he has. All this “good luck” in a short amount of time has left the man with a lot of fear and anxiety about his success, though. He believes that a few successes in the beginning have given his bosses an inflated picture of himself, and believes that he can not keep living up to the positive first impressions. He may be suffering from Imposter Syndrome.
Example #3: Woman Number 3 is very popular and very well liked. She has the perfect husband, the perfect home, and the perfect family. Both she and her husband have worked very hard to attain this perfect life, and it is well deserved. However, deep within her is a constant fear that it will all be lost, and that her friends will find out that she is not the perfect person she appears to be all the time.
This woman is the prime example of imposter syndrome, and an example that each and every one of us may run into sometime in our lives. This is because the world gives us an example of a “perfect” life that we are supposed to strive to achieve. Not only are we pushed toward replicating this perfect example in our lives, but this exaggerated “perfect stencil” for a life simply does not fit for everyone. She may be suffering from Imposter Syndrome.
Imposter Syndrome Versus Regret
For some, Imposter Syndrome and the feelings behind it, are caused by legitimate regrets. But many of those suffering from Imposter Syndrome do so without feelings of regret — feeling that they would not change a thing in their lives, but don’t feel good about where they are at and who they are. This is where the truest form of (IS) can occur, without any regret or a specific change in live the person is longing-for.
Regret is defined as a feeling of sadness or loss over something that has happened or been done. Additionally, a person can feel like an imposter due to something that has happened or been done. It is important for psychologists and therapists to determine if the IS and regret are directly linked, or are if one is simply an additional symptom of the overall diagnosis.
Even Psychologists and Medical Professionals Experience Imposter Syndrome Periodically
Because Imposter Syndrome usually occurs to high-achievers and those who have experienced success in life, there is a high rate of (IS) in medical professionals and psychotherapists. The medical professional has a lot of preparation and education before you truly get immersed in the actual work. This leads to many doctors and those in medical professions to feel inadequate, or feel like imposters.
Therapists and counselors have to be a rock and foundation for many other people. Having to be mentally-anchored constantly, and having to be the charismatic voice of reason all the time can cause you to question your own commitments.
Fear, Anxiety, and Low Self-Worth Can Hold You Back In Life
It is important to overcome Imposter Syndrome, and any negative self worth issues if you want to see your goals all the way to the end. Getting hung-up on little mental impediments can delay you on your path to a happy and fruitful life.
Imposter Syndrome and feeling like you don’t deserve success is one of the biggest impediments that can not only cause you to make the wrong life decisions, it can actually cause exactly that which you fear with (IS): loss of your success.
Therapy for Imposter Syndrome in Arizona
At The Arizona Relationship Institute, many of our therapists specialize in therapy for imposter syndrome. Several of our therapists have encountered Imposter Syndrome personally, and overcome its grasp. Further, our life coaches and life change therapists keep you on-track in life. We have created a full-spectrum treatment plan for not only dealing with low self esteem and self worth issues, but a plan to help you overcome these challenges at various points in your life and ensure you meet and exceed your life goals.
