Imposter Syndrome Symptoms and Why You’re Feeling this Way

What do imposter syndrome symptoms look like? Why do we hear about imposter syndrome so much today? And, most importantly, what should you do about it?

Do you doubt yourself?

Do you try to be an over-achiever?

Are you constantly worried about messing up and letting people down?

To you often attribute your successes to luck?

You’re in the right place, you imposter you!

Imposter syndrome is loosely defined as doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud. It’s extremely common among high-achiever personalities, and often comes with feelings of anxiety and depression.

Let’s first look more closely at the symptoms, so you can identify if this blog post is for you.

What are the common imposter syndrome symptoms?

Man holds up papers in front of his face. Imposter syndrome in the workplace blog by Inspired Idiots.

Self-doubt
Feeling unsure of what you think you’re “good at”
Attributing your success to external factors (like luck)
Criticizing your performance
Feeling insulted over any criticism (even constructive criticism)
Fear that you won’t live up to expectations
Overachieving
Sabotaging your own success (quitting before you actually fail)
Setting very challenging goals and feeling disappointed when you fall short

For some people, impostor syndrome can fuel motivation to achieve, but this usually comes at the cost of experiencing constant anxiety. You might over-prepare or work much harder than necessary, for instance, to “make sure” nobody finds out you are a fraud. Eventually, anxiety worsens and may lead to depression.
Arlin Cuncic

The 5 “imposter archetypes” are the perfectionist, the expert, the soloist, the natural genius, and the superhuman.
Imposter syndrome symptoms blog by Inspired Idiots. — Infographic by Asana

Why do we hear about imposter syndrome symptoms so much today?

The pressure to succeed is more prevalent than it’s ever been. More people are going to school and pursuing careers today than ever before, and this increase in the workforce is leading to more competitiveness. Think about it:

A high school diploma used to be all you needed for most entry-level positions.

By 1960, about 45% of high school graduates were enrolling in post-secondary.

Today, it’s almost impossible to land a liveable wage-paying job without some kind of post-secondary education.

The Washington Post calls this “degree inflation.”

Young man looks at his laptop seeming stressed. Imposter syndrome in the workplace blog by Inspired Idiots.

Jobs are becoming more technologically complicated — and the need to be educated is creating a competitiveness in the workplace. Not to mention that remote work is a thing now, meaning you could be beat out for a position by someone who doesn’t even live in your city!

It’s this competitiveness that’s harbouring the rise of imposter syndrome — particularly among women — because we’re constantly reminded that our skills are replaceable.

However, it’s crucial that you acknowledge when you’re allowing these self-deprecating thoughts to creep in so that you don’t sabotage your own success with self doubt.

Tips to help with imposter syndrome symptoms

1: Stop Feeling Alone

The first step to combating imposter syndrome (or any negative emotion, for that matter) is to really understand that you are not unique in your fears. Seriously, let that marinate for a second.

You are not the only one who feels imposter syndrome. About 62% of employees today feel the same way.

It’s easy to become wrapped up in an emotion when you think you’re alone in it. So, take some comfort in knowing that your emotions are normal. That being said, it should never be “normal” for them to control your life.

Four colleagues talk over coffee. Imposter syndrome in the workplace blog by Inspired Idiots.

2: Fact or Story?

Every time you’re feeling anxious about a project, thinking the “what if I can’t” thoughts, or moaning over a recent mess-up — stop and ask yourself if your worries are based on fact or if you’re just telling yourself a story.

Are you being objective or subjective?

Remember this quote:

“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” – Charles R. Swindoll.

It’s almost certain that you can ace this project. You can take constructive criticism and apply it to make yourself even better. You can be the best person for the job. Because surely you didn’t cheat your way through all the experiences that got you here today.

Pay attention to when you’re psyching yourself out. When you feel yourself getting anxious over something, try writing down three of your accomplishments that have helped prepare you for this. I think you’ll find that you can do the exact same thing anyone else in your position would do: learn!

Man writes down some of his small recent accomplishments. Imposter syndrome in the workplace blog by Inspired Idiots.

3: The Five-Minute Rule

You just messed up on something. Maybe you put a typo in a published piece. Maybe you forgot to get back to a client quickly, and now they’re upset. Maybe your project didn’t get the result you anticipated.

Give yourself five minutes to take it in, and let yourself feel it.

Seriously, set a timer and commit to only obsessing over it for five minutes. This might seem silly at first, but this has been a game-changing technique in my arsenal of anxiety-coping strategies.

When you allow yourself time to feel what you’re feeling, you stop trying to bury your emotions — which we know never really works out. And by committing to “snapping out of it” after five minutes, you’re reprogramming your brain to detach from these self-deprecating thoughts and move on.

But remember (and this is crucial) to do the same thing when you experience a WIN!

A huge part of the reason why imposter syndrome is so prevalent today is because we are all becoming critically-obsessed perfectionists! We can waste hours thinking about our mess-ups, but the accomplishments and compliments we receive often go in one ear and out the other.

Stop doing that! Seriously. Feel your wins as much as you feel your losses!

When you receive positive feedback, or a client thanks you for your great work, or your campaign gets better results than you expected — set that five-minute timer and embrace that win.

By forcing yourself to actively think about your successes, you’re combating that negative voice in your head and creating a more balanced opinion of yourself.

Think about it: would you obsess about that typo as much today if you had celebrated a great little win yesterday? Probably not!

Woman smiles while thinking about her recent win. Imposter syndrome in the workplace blog by Inspired Idiots.

Imposter syndrome can be an overwhelming, isolating feeling — but remember that’s all it is: a feeling. It is not your reality, and it does not have to control you life. With awareness, acknowledgement, and a few little tricks, you can overcome it and keep thriving!

Now go out there and kill it, like you always do!

Check out our post on what to do when you feel like giving up, or how about 12 confidence quotes to help you snap out of it, or why you’re feeling stuck in life.

If you’re interested in making money online, but have no idea how — you are an inspired idiot!

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