So what is imposter syndrome? According to the National Institute of Health, it “is a behavioral health phenomenon described as self-doubt of intellect, skills, or accomplishments among high-achieving individuals” [1]. But in simpler terms, it’s feeling like a fraud, feeling like you’re not worthy of your accomplishments and that you do not deserve the opportunities that you receive. Although common in high-stress professions like in the healthcare and STEM fields, the perfectionism and high standards that students invoke in themselves or are exposed to result in them experiencing this “phenomenon” too. Students who experience imposter syndrome might feel like their grades were a lucky accident, worry about someone finding out that they’re not ‘smart enough’. They might feel like their work is not up to standard even though they’re doing well in class, and experience excessive stress as a result. This might cause them to over prepare or procrastinate, in an attempt to not face those daunting feelings of self doubt and uncertainty [2]. Students experiencing imposter syndrome might also not participate in class when they know the answer or have a valuable addition to a discussion, over the fear of being wrong [2].
There are five types of Imposter Syndrome [3]:
The Perfectionst: This type includes thinking that being perfect is the highest quality of oneself, and unless you were completely perfect, you could have always done better. They feel like they’re an imposter due to their perfectionistic tendencies, which makes them think that they’re not as good as others might perceive them to be.
The Expert: They feel like a fraud for not knowing everything that they could possibility know about a topic or mastering something in an area of expertise.
The Natural Genius: They feel like a fraud for not believing that they are naturally intelligent or capable.
The Solosit: Asking for help makes them feel like a fraud as they think that they weren’t competent enough to do the job themselves.
The Superperson: If not the hardest worker or the person with the most achievements, they feel like a fraud.
If this sounds like you, don’t worry, there was ways to overcome this. However, there are ways to overcome this. Rewiring your thoughts would be the first step. Instead of thinking “I’m so stupid for not understanding this problem”, “I’m learning to slove difficult problems” would be a more helpful and encouraging way of thinking. Confining to friends and classmates also helps, since it is very likely that you’re not the only one feeling these negative emotions. Using the mantra ‘Fake it till you make it’ might also proves to be helpful as in includes a positive end goal that you would eventually achieve [2]. Imposter syndrome could also drip into stress anxiety, as you wonder if you preprared enough, or if you’re intelligent enough to get a high grade on the test.
These negative thoughts and emotions can lead to anxiety and depression, so do not bottle up your feelings and take about them to a trusted person, preferably mental health professional, like your school counselor.
References:
[1] Huecker, Martin R., et al. “Imposter Phenomenon.” PubMed, StatPearls Publishing, 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK585058/#:~:text=Introduction.
[2] “How to Overcome Impostor Syndrome in College | BestColleges.” Www.bestcolleges.com, 25 June 2021, www.bestcolleges.com/blog/overcome-impostor-syndrome-college/#:~:text=First%20identified%20in%20a%201978.
[3] “How to Stop Feeling like an Outsider When You Have Social Anxiety.” Verywell Mind, www.verywellmind.com/imposter-syndrome-and-social-anxiety-disorder-4156469#toc-coping-with-imposter-syndrome.
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