How to Identify and Cope with 'Imposter Syndrome' in Your Professional and Personal Life?

Do you often feel that you need to meet high expectations all the time? 

Do you pressure yourselves to be good in all areas of life?

Do you think you only succeed due to your innate talents alone and not by hard work?

Do find it hard to ask for help and oftentimes have to do everything by yourself?

Do you doubt yourself in doing a good job in a field you are already an expert in?

If you find yourself saying "yes" to any of the questions above, then you must be suffering from the 
psychological phenomenon called 'Imposter Syndrome'. 

Imposter syndrome is loosely defined as the feeling of inadequacy to do a certain task despite having 
the right skill set, talents, or knowledge to do so. Oftentimes, this feeling is predicated with the anxiety 
of being found as a fraud and with depression that you couldn't do better than you expected for yourself. 

People with imposter syndrome discredit themselves for the achievements they reached, not finding 
real joy in their success. Instead, their accomplishments seem like another added bricks to the tonsweight of pressure they put themselves into.

Thankfully, this psychological pattern is not officially listed as a mental illness. However, this pattern of 
thoughts of inadequacy or self-doubt could put you at risk of many health problems. 

As the mind is linked to the body and vice versa, whatever goes on to the brain, the body responds. 
Having prolonged exposure to this syndrome elevates the stress hormone called cortisol which could 
give birth to anxiety or depression. Unmanaged, this will inevitably cause many health problems, 
particularly damaging the heart. According to the American Heart Association, when you are constantly 
stressed, blood pressure rises, reducing blood flow to the heart which will then lead to the development 
of heart disease.

If such a thought pattern could put you at greater health risk, maybe it is high time to put a stop to it. 
Let me take you on some helpful tips on how to identify and cope with Imposter Syndrome. 

Tone it Down

Do you often feel that you need to meet high expectations all the time? 

It is alright to set high standards for success. It motivates us all to do our best. However, if you fall into a 
negative fixation on being perfect in everything, obsessing yourself with little things, being indecisive, 
and making you self-critical, then it is time to tone it down. 

To overcome this, allow yourself to be realistic and accept your imperfections. 

Be Human

Do you pressure yourselves to be good in all areas of life?

Do find it hard to ask for help and oftentimes have to do everything by yourself?

Unless you are Clark Kent with super alien ability, then putting yourself in a strain to be good at 
everything is impossible to achieve without you reaching a breaking point. Having the need to do 
everything for yourself, you may not handle criticism very well or feel guilt over taking a leisure. 
Just learn to slow down and be human. Walk away from the tasks that are fighting over your attention. 

Take a breather as this will increase production and realign your thoughts with how you define success. 
Accept help if you need to as this is not a sign of degradation of your self-worth. 

Positive Self-talk

Do you think you only succeed due to your innate talents alone and not by hard work?

Talents are truly God-given and could take you miles in your career. Many are living witnesses to this 
fact. However, to discredit hard work over your accomplishment is another form of imposter syndrome. 
To combat this, instead of negativity, consider reinforcing yourself with positive self-talk whenever 
things don't go out your way. 

Instead of Doubt, Do Some Affirmation

Do you doubt yourself in doing a good job in a field you are already an expert in?

This is common to people with acquired skills and knowledge. Despite being more than good at their job, 
they still have a sense of self-doubt over themselves as if their expertise isn't enough for the 
achievements they gain. 
An excellent way to overcome this is to seek more opportunities to widen your knowledge in your field 
of specification and allow for some space to be vulnerable when there are setbacks. 

Imposter syndrome left unchecked could be damaging to both mental and physical health. If you ever 
find yourself falling into this same rabbit hole, be kind and free yourself from the shackles of unrealistic 
expectations, self-doubt, or feelings of inadequacy. 

Don't be afraid to seek counsel from a therapist who could help effectively battle this pattern of 
thoughts.