Why Do I Feel Like A Fraud? Imposter Syndrome: What It Is and How It Affects Us

Have you ever stopped and asked yourself “what am I doing here?” Have you ever worried that people might find out who you “really are”? Do you feel like a fraud?

If so, you’re not alone, and it’s not as uncommon as you might think.

Imposter Syndrome can affect almost anyone, especially in a professional setting. It creates discord between how you perceive yourself and how others perceive you. From a professional standpoint, that often means feeling like you’re a fraud when it comes to any praise you receive, or even any positive feedback. This can cause you to live in constant fear and anxiety. You might be worried about being “found out,” so you become a perfectionist and feel ashamed when you can’t live up to your own expectations.

Obviously, this is a dangerous and exhausting cycle that can cause a string of mental health issues. So, let’s talk more about Imposter Syndrome and how it can really affect you.

Why Do You Feel This Way?

There isn’t one main “cause” for Imposter Syndrome. But, there are several potential underlying causes. Many of them stem from childhood. If your parents pressured you to get good grades in school, or if they criticized you when you made a mistake, you might struggle with imposter feelings now.

Some people have personality traits that can contribute to this syndrome. Those that consider themselves perfectionists or have low self-efficacy are more likely to fall into the trap of feeling like a fraud.

Sometimes, something like a new job or promotion at work can trigger those feelings. If you’re taking on new responsibilities and you feel like you didn’t earn them or that people will see through you, you can develop imposter feelings quickly and start to doubt yourself.

What Are the Signs?

Keep in mind that there’s a difference between Imposter Syndrome and other mental health conditions like anxiety. While the two can go hand-in-hand, this syndrome is very specific. Your thoughts will constantly be focused on things like keeping others from noticing your shortcomings or feeling guilty over “fooling” people.

You’ll also likely try to work harder to become the person you think everyone expects you to be. Unfortunately, your sense of perfectionism can constantly cause you to fall short, creating a vicious cycle that makes you feel even guiltier.

What Can You Do?

Your initial response to feeling like a fraud might be to work harder and prove yourself wrong. But, that only contributes to the cycle we touched on above.

Imposter Syndrome is a real condition, and the symptoms need to be resolved in productive and effective ways. That starts by identifying your feelings for what they are and acknowledging that they’re overwhelming you. Talk to a friend or co-worker about it. You might find that you aren’t alone in the way you feel.

Once your feelings are out in the open, talk to those around you about needing support. When you’re willing to give up a bit of control, more things will get done, and you’ll realize you don’t need to tackle everything on your own. That can help you feel like less of a fraud and less like a failure.

Finally, don’t be afraid to seek out professional help if you’re really struggling.

A life coach can help you to overcome your feelings of failure and unworthiness. They will also help with any underlying anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues that could be fueling your Imposter Syndrome. Getting to the root cause of those issues can make a big difference.

Coaching can also foster growth and allow you to reframe your beliefs about yourself. If you want to move forward in life and achieve success without the fear of feeling like a fraud, talking to a professional is one of the best ways to achieve that. If that sounds like you, feel free to contact me today.