Among all the open discourse on mental illness and how it affects different people in their lives, you may have occasionally heard the phrase “Imposter Syndrome” from time to time.

If you’re unaware of the term, however, suffice to say that imposter syndrome (also called the “imposter phenomenon” or “imposterism”) is the overwhelming and persistent fear or perception that, despite evidence of one’s competence, a person believes that their expertise and achievements are fraudulent.

This can often coincide with a deathly fear of being “discovered” for their fraud, even though there is no fraud to discover.

The phenomenon was first discussed in the 1970s in relation to women that had become successful in the workplace only to be plagued by feelings of falsehood and fakery.

Today, our understanding of imposter syndrome has expanded, and the condition is often experienced by people who feel that they somehow don’t deserve their success.

These feelings can often be crippling, and if you find that you are experiencing intense and persistent sensations that you have somehow “faked” your way to living well, it is important to discuss these feelings with a Master of Counselling qualified professional. For now, however, let’s take a look at how we can combat imposter syndrome in our lives.

What is Imposter Syndrome?

The first coinage of the term “Imposter Syndrome” comes from a 1978 study, when psychologists Dr. Pauline Rose Clance and Dr. Suzanne Imes published a study referring to a so-called “imposter phenomenon” in successful women.

Dr. Clance herself suffered with the idea that her successes and academic achievement were undeserved, feelings which worsened when she started her teaching career and that she found several of her female students shared.

According to the study, imposter syndrome is often instigated in a person’s early years due to either of a pair of family dynamic patterns.

The first pattern is where a child’s siblings are often regarded by the parents as the “capable” or “intelligent” siblings, while the other is shrugged off as the “sensitive” or more socially adept sibling.

This projection of intellect and capability on the other siblings leads to feelings of self-doubt, which, when met with success later in life, manifest the core symptoms of imposter syndrome.

The second dynamic pattern occurs when too much praise is heaped on a child early in life, only for them to eventually and inevitably be met with failure later in life.

This failure can shatter the self-perception of being naturally talented and lead to chronic feelings of self-doubt and denial of success.

The 5 Different Types

It is important to recognise that imposter syndrome is much more than feelings of self-doubt; it is the chronic thought pattern that all of a person’s success has been stolen through trickery and deception, and sooner or later, you will be found out.

This thought pattern exists and persists despite evidence to the contrary and can be debilitating. People with severe imposter syndrome may find it difficult to find work as they believe that their skills in their field lack the requisite expertise. They may deny promotions or struggle to maintain a sense of job satisfaction.

Additionally, current research suggests that there are five distinct “types” of imposter syndrome experiences:

1. The Perfectionist

This type of imposter syndrome is focused on achieving immediate “perfection.” Perfectionists can struggle with acknowledging the effort and work they’ve done on a task, instead only seeing flaws and failure.

They may do amazing, immaculate work, but rather than accept the appropriate gratitude or praise for the job, they will often struggle with the sense that they “could have done better.”

Perfectionists may struggle to start new projects or ventures if they feel there is a significant risk of getting it wrong the first time.

2. The Natural Genius

This is a fairly common type among people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), where, due to their unique brain structures and stimulation-based attention span, they pick up new skills quickly and with relative ease.

The natural genius is a person who learns fast, and has many skills or talents, and while this may sound like a blessing when something does prove to be a legitimate challenge, they can really struggle with self-doubt and self-esteem issues.

3. The Soloist

This person believes that for success to be “real” they have to accomplish it on their own. This means they won’t accept help or advice from anyone unless things become dangerous or desperate.

Even then, accepting help can lead to feelings of shame or inadequacy. To Soloists, accepting help is essentially “admitting” defeat or failure and is paramount to giving up.

4. The Expert

Experts believe they have to know everything about their topic, and this persistent pursuit of knowing is often detrimental to the task at hand.

An artist may conduct so much research about their subject that they never actually get around to making their art, overwhelmed and exhausted by the extensive research phase.

This can also lead to feelings of failure when the knowledge is put to the test and found to be less than comprehensive.

5. The Superhero

The final “type” of imposter syndrome experience is characterised by the inherent need to be good at everything – and anything less is considered a failure. The Superhero throws themselves into every aspect of a job head first.

While the work ethic may be admirable, it can often lead to burnout and self-doubt. Superheroes can also struggle with the sense that what they are doing “should be easier” or that they’re simply never doing enough no matter how full a plate they have.

Ways to Overcome Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome can be complicated to cope with, especially in an area of passion. Creators who suffer from Imposter Syndrome may get into creative or inspirational ruts that are difficult to work out of.

People can sacrifice career opportunities, time with friends and family, and other such life experiences as they believe they don’t deserve the fortune that comes their way.

Nevertheless, imposter syndrome can be dealt with, allowing those who suffer with it to take control of their lives.

Acknowledge Your Feelings

Hiding from the way you feel about something is not helpful and can cause the unrecognised emotions to fester and boil over into something destructive.

The first step to dealing with imposter syndrome is to recognise the feelings you have, look at the actions you’ve taken and identify why you’ve done those things.

The first step to confronting any mental illness or struggle is to identify that there is a problem in the first place.

Challenge Your Doubts

When you find yourself in instances of Imposter Syndrome it is important to not let it go unchecked. Examine the situation, look at your actions, and examine the feedback from others around you.

There is usually a mountain of evidence that your expertise and skills are true and that you are as capable as your achievements reflect.

Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

This can be easier said than done and may require some assistance from a trusted third party. However, it is only too human to compare our achievements to those we idolise or envy.

Unfortunately, the achievements of those around us also provide ammunition for our self-doubts. Comparing yourself to the greats in your field is like comparing short trees to tall ones; the only real difference between the two is time spent growing.

Speak To Someone

Friend or professional, it doesn’t matter, but both are recommended. The first port of call for help with mental illness is other, trusted people.

Mental illness feeds on isolation, and though it can be confronting to admit to feelings of imposter syndrome, discussing them can help you not feel alone and open up an avenue of connection with someone who may be going through the same thing.