Woman with pink hair pointing her finger upward with a surprised expression on her face
To watch a webinar with me presenting on the topic of Imposter Syndrome (and if you don't feel like reading the blog), please click here.
In my first post on Imposter Syndrome, I covered the definition and scope of imposter syndrome including how commonly it is experienced by various people.
Now, we'll cover a quick summary of signs and then dive into triggers that heighten the imposter syndrome experience.
Signs of imposter syndrome include
Understanding imposter syndrome involves knowing that you get triggered and what those triggers tend to be.
This step introduces the concept of reflective and reflexive learning about yourself.
First, it helps to understand the factors that influenced your imposter experiences.
Next, what are your triggers?
It is not uncommon for symptoms of anxiety, social anxiety (feeling like you don’t belong in social or performance situations, you might believe you are socially incompetent), social dysfunction, depression, and low self-esteem to be associated with imposter syndrome.
Additionally, imposter syndrome can cause people who are usually non-anxious to feel a sense of anxiety when they are in circumstances where they feel inadequate.
Now if you feel that your anxiety is affecting your ability to perform the activities of daily life, it is time to see out the help of a mental health professional.
You gain greater confidence, feelings of success and an appreciation for what you’ve done and what you are doing. You are more likely to pursue new opportunities and stretch assignments and have healthier relationships. You will also experience less negative automatic thoughts and hopefully a reduction in levels of anxiety and or depression too.
Podcasts
Books
Clare Josh's book called, Ditching Imposter Syndrome.
Lisa Orbé-Austin’s book called, Own Your Greatness: Overcome Impostor Syndrome, Beat Self-Doubt, and Succeed in Life
Dr. Valerie Young’s book called, The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women: Why Capable People Suffer from the Imposter Syndrome and How to Thrive in Spite of It.
Assessment Tools
The Clance Imposter Phenomenon Scale: 20 statements assessed on a scale between 1 (not at all true) and 5 (very true).
The Harvey Imposter Scale (HIPS). It is a 14-item questionnaire, scored between 1 and 7, where a high score indicates a high level of imposter feelings (Bravata et al., 2019).
Disclaimer
Please note that this post is a general overview and not mental advice.
The articles, suggested readings, and additional resources on this website provide general information only and do not constitute advice in any way. My goal is to provide information that is well-researched, thoughtful and relevant, but it is a guide only. What is best for you will depend on your personal history and circumstances. If you require additional support, information or guidance in relation to a particular issue, please speak with a medical practitioner or therapist who will be able to take the time to understand your individual circumstances, history, worldview, and goals and apply this holistic information to support you in the most effective course of action. Everyone deserves to feel well.
References
Benisek, A. (2022, February 15). What is imposter syndrome? WebMD. Retrieved February 24, 2023, from https://www.webmd.com/balance/what-is-imposter-syndrome#:~:text=It's%20not%20an%20actual%20mental,be%20exposed%20as%20a%20fraud
Bravata, D. M., Watts. S. A., Keefer, A. L., Madhusudhan, D. K., Taylor, K. T., Clark, D. M., Hagg, H. K. (2019). Prevalence, predictors, and treatment of impostor syndrome: A systematic review. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 35, 1252-1275.
Clance, P. R., & Imes, S. A. (1978). The imposter phenomenon in high achieving women: Dynamics and therapeutic intervention. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 15(3), 241–247. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0086006
Cuncic, A. (2022, November 17). How to stop feeling like an outsider when you have social anxiety. Verywell Mind. Retrieved February 25, 2023, from https://www.verywellmind.com/imposter-syndrome-and-social-anxiety-disorder-4156469
Dweck, C. S. (2008). Mindset. Ballantine Books
KPMG. (2020, October 6). KPMG study finds 75% of executive women experience Imposter Syndrome. KPMG study finds 75% of executive women experience imposter syndrome. Retrieved February 24, 2023, from https://info.kpmg.us/news-perspectives/people-culture/kpmg-study-finds-most-female-executives-experience-imposter-syndrome.html
Meinke, L. (n.d.). Top ten indicators to refer a client to a mental health professional. Retrieved February 24, 2023, from https://coachfederation.org/app/uploads/2017/12/WhentoRefer.pdf
Palmer, C. (2021, June 1). How to overcome impostor phenomenon. Monitor on Psychology, 52(4). https://www.apa.org/monitor/2021/06/cover-impostor-phenomenon
Sutton, J. (2023, February 10). How to overcome imposter syndrome: 14 tests & worksheets. PositivePsychology.com. Retrieved February 24, 2023, from https://positivepsychology.com/imposter-syndrome-tests-worksheets/#tests