We have all heard of impostor syndrome through social networks, books, or various discussions.

Yet, half of the people who think they know it don’t really, and the other half who truly understand it are victims of this phenomenon.

"Imposter syndrome, a phenomenon characterized by persistent feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt, is estimated to affect approximately 70% of individuals at some point in their lives, with prevalence rates varying between 9% and 82% based on different assessment tools. "

- Statistics About Imposter Syndrome

What Is It?

Impostor syndrome is a psychological phenomenon related to feelings of illegitimacy and self-doubt. The person in question doubts their abilities and attributes their successes to external factors, fearing being exposed as a fraud.

For example, instead of feeling proud of what they have accomplished, they might say to themselves, "Many people can do this," or "It's because someone helped me."

A fear of being seen as an impostor.

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Where Could This Come From?

When we experience a significant moment in our life, a trauma, our brain becomes wary. If you are a victim of aggression, you will become cautious, and this will create blockages, such as not dressing the way you truly want, but constantly wanting to hide your body.

If you have been betrayed, your brain will want to protect you, and you will find it much harder to trust someone. Impostor syndrome, on the other hand, can stem from the fact that during childhood, their successes were often overlooked or they were frequently compared to their siblings.

Or it could be perfectionist individuals: they are under strong pressure to excel, which reinforces their feelings of being an impostor when they do not meet their own expectations.

But how do you recognize this syndrome?

How to Recognize It?

This phenomenon generally manifests itself through constant self-doubt, attributing success to other external factors, fear of being exposed (that is, fearing that others will discover that one is not as competent as they think), or even the inability to be proud of oneself (thinking that one never deserves anything).

For example, she got good grades, so her parents congratulated her, and she would feel uncomfortable and respond, "It's just a test," or "I could have done better."

I will share my experience with some recent events; when my family learned that I was a writer for TTM, they were very proud of me, and it made me happy but also uncomfortable at the same time because I thought, "I just got lucky," but I didn't dare tell them because I didn't want to hurt them, and I felt guilty for thinking that.

And now that I am doing research for this article, well, I recognize myself in this, and I am going to try to follow the advice and improve myself! Now I am going to share with you some tips to overcome this.

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Advice to Overcome This

If you recognize yourself in this, remember that you should not be ashamed, that you are certainly not an impostor but a human being with limits, feelings, and flaws like everyone else. Be proud of yourself to the point of throwing a celebration in your own honor!

1. Notice, Understand, and Accept Your Feelings: Sometimes, we do not notice what we are experiencing. Personally, I have a bad tendency to constantly analyze myself, so after doing some research, I can put words to what I feel, but for other people, it is much more complicated. If you have blockages, etc., talk to a professional or do some research to put words to your feelings.
2. Talk About it: Talk to trusted people like friends, family, professionals, teachers, etc. Sometimes just talking about it can really feel good!
3. Focus on Your Successes: Focus on what you have accomplished, even keep a journal. Of your achievements! Every time you accomplish something, note it down and also write why you are proud of yourself. It may seem silly, even narcissistic, but the most important thing is your well-being, not how it appears!

Conclusion

While this syndrome is super common, it is not harmless. We must pay attention to it and, above all, take care of ourselves.