Impostor syndrome is a condition in which an individual doubts their accomplishments and fears being exposed as a “fraud.” While challenging yourself is normal, it can become debilitating when it’s exaggerated and leads to anxiety. According to a MoneyPenny report, 1 in 3 Americans suffers from impostor syndrome.
This article will discuss the causes of Impostor Syndrome and how you can overcome it. We’ll also talk about some tips on dealing with anxiety, an overwhelming feeling that something terrible will happen at any moment.
Acknowledge The Existence Of Impostor Syndrome
Do you feel like you’re not good enough? Do you think other people are talking about how inadequate or incompetent you are? It’s easy to assume that these feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt mean something is wrong with you, but it’s essential to recognize that these feelings aren’t necessarily indicators of any deficiency.
These thoughts may be caused by a normal stress response called impostor syndrome. The term refers to a feeling of being a fraud, believing that any success or praise you receive will eventually be revealed as undeserved.
Reframe Your Thinking
At the end of the day, impostor syndrome and anxiety are rooted in irrational thinking. They’re often brought about by fear of failure and a lack of confidence, which can be addressed with therapy or other forms of support. No matter how much time you spend alone, you won’t be able to fully grapple with these issues until someone else gives us an outside perspective on them, and that’s where therapists come in.
Because no one is perfect at everything they do, we should always look to improve ourselves by doing things like reading more books or taking classes in our fields of interest. If any piece of advice could get rid of the anxiety permanently, it would be learning how to reframe your thinking so that you don’t feel like you’re constantly failing at life every time things don’t go according to plan at work or school.
Seek Out A Therapist To Talk About Your Feelings And Work Through Them
If impostor syndrome is causing you a lot of anxiety, it’s likely the result of negative thoughts repeated in your mind repeatedly. Remember, you can’t control what thoughts come into your head, but you can control how often you think them and for how long. A therapist can help with this. They will be able to help you change what you think about and how often these thoughts occur.
A therapist can also help with self-doubt and low self-confidence by assisting them in identifying their underlying causes, including low self-esteem or past trauma due to bullying or abuse. And then teaching them healthier ways of coping with those feelings instead of letting them lead to anxiety attacks. And anxiety disorder is the most common in the US, affecting 40 million adults, as per ADAA.
Finally, therapists are trained professionals who know effective strategies for dealing with impostor syndrome; if one feels like they need more guidance, then seeking out one may be worth considering.
To illustrate, Florida is ranked 30th in youth rankings for mental illness according to Mental Health America (MHA). It means youth, who are more susceptible to impostor syndrome, have a higher prevalence of mental illness but a lower rate of healthcare access. However, a simple find a therapist in Florida search should pull up a list of qualified and experienced therapists in the state.
Share Your Feelings With Someone You Trust
One of the best ways to overcome impostor syndrome and its accompanying anxiety is to talk about it with someone you trust. It may be a friend, family member, coworker, or even a professional counselor specializing in anxiety disorders.
It might seem like an obvious suggestion, but we would urge you not to share your feelings with someone who might not be supportive or whom you don’t know very well yet.
Try finding someone who has been through similar experiences and find out how they managed their impostor syndrome and anxiety over time. You can also try posting on social media about your experience. This can bring comfort from knowing that others are going through similar things.
Accept Compliments Gracefully And With A Thank You Note Or Message
Accepting compliments gracefully is one of the best ways to combat impostor syndrome and its resulting anxiety. When someone compliments you, be sure to thank them sincerely. Don’t give an excuse or say, “oh, that’s nothing.” Instead, accept their compliment and move on with your day feeling good about yourself.
It may seem like a small thing, but if you’re constantly downplaying your accomplishments, it can negatively impact how you feel about yourself overall. It also makes others feel uncomfortable because they share in the pride for something great that happened but don’t want to offend by saying so. The more comfortable you accept compliments from others, the easier it will become for them too.
Be Kind To Yourself, You Deserve It
Self-compassion is an attitude of kindness and acceptance toward yourself, even when you have failed or made a mistake. It means understanding that difficulties happen to everyone at one time or another and that perfection is not possible.
Everyone deserves to be kind to themselves. You are not an impostor, and you deserve the love and validation of others. By being kinder to yourself, you will find it easier to accept your strengths and weaknesses. It, in turn, can help alleviate anxiety related to impostor syndrome while also making you feel better about life overall.
Conclusion
Remember, you are not an impostor. You’re not alone in feeling this way, and it’s something that can be overcome. By acknowledging the existence of impostor syndrome and reframing your thinking about yourself, you can find ways to move past the feelings of doubt or fear that come with it.
