- Hey, everybody.
Today we're gonna talk about imposter syndrome.
But before we jump into that really exciting topic,
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Let's start by defining imposter syndrome.
It is a psychological pattern
in which an individual doubts their accomplishments
and has a persistent, internalized fear
of being exposed as a fraud.
This most commonly happens to those of us who are
in college or graduate school, or are starting
a new and more challenging position at work.
And I can honestly say that I've struggled with this
off and on throughout my entire life.
It began when I started my first counseling job.
I wasn't licensed yet, but I had my bachelors degree
in psychology and I began working at a foster
teen home for parenting or pregnant teen girls.
It was a lot.
But I remember walking in to my very first team meeting
thinking 'What the hell do I know?'
I haven't even given therapy to anyone.
How can I teach these parenting classes
or help them manage all that they're going through?
I felt as if I hadn't learned anything in school,
and I didn't even deserve to have the job
that I had just gotten.
This internal struggle happened again when I was in
graduate school and I began treating patients
for the very first time.
Again, I felt like I had no clue what I was doing,
and that I was a complete fraud.
I mean how could I help these people,
I'm not even sure if I can actually be a therapist.
I've only read about it and completed role plays in school.
Ugh!
Now to give a bit more context, imposter syndrome
is also called imposter phenomenon by the way,
and it was first described by psychologists
Suzanne Imes, or Imes, I'm not sure,
and Pauline Rose Clance in the 1970s.
And it said to occur among high achievers
who are unable to internalize and accept their successes.
They often attribute their accomplishments to luck,
rather than ability, and fear that others
will eventually unmask them as a fraud.
Now this syndrome or phenomenon is not
an official diagnosis in the DSM,
but due to the nature of it,
it can be accompanied by anxiety and depression.
I mean think about it, if we always feel like
we're a fraud and we don't really deserve to be there,
that could make us feel anxious or potentially worse
about ourselves and become depressed.
Now they initially believed this phenomenon only occurred
in women, but later found that it happens to anyone
who really feels pressured to achieve,
which I estimate is a large portion of us.
Now luckily, they've been studying imposter syndrome
more and more recently, and have found that
some of us are more predisposed
to struggle with it than others.
In a recent study they found that those
who were raised in a home where there was a large
emphasis placed on success and achievement
that we're more likely to struggle.
As well as those of us whose parents may have sent
mixed messages like they praised us one minute
and chewed us out the next.
Now we know that kind of parenting can lead to
attachment issues, I've talked about that in other videos
but it can also affect how well we're able to function
in our life as an adult.
Meaning it can lead us to feeling like we're an imposter.
We're like a fraud and we don't really deserve
what we've worked so hard for.
Researchers also find that this experience
is more common among minorities.
And some of the subjects that they interviewed
recalled being told from a young age that
they would have to work twice as hard in life to get ahead.
So when they do find themselves in a position of success
or power, they don't believe it to be true.
Or they feel like maybe they didn't truly
earn it because did they really work twice as hard?
Nobody knows.
Last, they also share that if we feel that we're a minority
in any way during our schooling or in our career,
maybe being the only woman on a particular team
within your work, or the only gay man,
or the youngest in a program,
any of those things can affect us
and cause us to struggle with imposter syndrome.
But now let's get into how we can combat it
because like most things in life,
if we find something upsetting,
we can work to change ourselves and how we experience life.
Number one, talk kindly to yourself.
You know me, I'm always talking about the power
of self talk, and it's true.
If we were talking to ourselves saying that
we don't have any right to be there,
and we don't know how to do anything,
but we've been trained and we were hired for this position,
or accepted into that particular program,
then we need to change how we speak to ourselves.
Because we obviously do deserve to be here.
And someone felt that we knew just what it was
we were doing, so don't let that negative doubting
self talk ruin it for you.
You worked hard for this.
Start noticing, maybe writing down three to five things
you like about yourself each and every day.
You could even start by recognizing all you
were able to do that day.
Focusing in on how much you know,
how good at your job you are,
and all that you have to offer.
Maybe give it a try.
See if it changes how you feel.
Number two, acknowledge your schooling and expertise.
Take some time to consider all that you've accomplished.
Sure, it can feel like it was just yesterday
that you started graduate school,
or this job, but you have come a long long way.
Go through all of your accommodations,
papers, tests you've completed and passed,
and give yourself the time to just soak it all in.
Take the time to remember and recognize all that
you do well, and how hard you worked.
And that will hopefully show you just how equipped
and ready for this you are,
because nothing happens overnight.
And you have earned the right to be looked up to,
and to be in charge.
And number three, talk to a mentor or support
who could help.
Chances are they've been there too.
They may have some tips and tools that could
help you get out of this funk more quickly.
Just like I'm always saying, it's with my expertise
and your experience that we all learn and grow.
So reach out to that old professor or that family friend
or whomever you look up to to get some insight
into their experience, and maybe what helped them.
And number four, talk to a professional.
If you find this getting in your way so much so
that it's impairing your ability to function
in your life, you should look into seeing a therapist
or counselor in your area.
Like I mentioned earlier, imposter syndrome can lead
to anxiety or depression, and the sooner we get help
for that, the better.
And remember, we don't have to feel at our worst
to finally reach out and speak up.
We can all benefit from therapy,
especially if we have a job or career path
that is pressure-filled.
This video has been brought to you
by the Kinions on Patreon.
If you would like to support the creation
of these mental health videos,
click the link in the description and check it out.
And finally, just remember that we all feel like imposters
sometimes, but we can overcome the urge to discount
and discredit ourselves.
We just have to know it's happening.
And follow some of the simple steps that I mentioned
in this video.
But, as always, I want to hear from you.
Is this something that you struggle with?
When did it bother you most?
And most importantly, how did you overcome it?
Let me know in those comments down below
and I will see you next time.
Bye!