Deceiver syndrome makes people doubt their achievements and fear that others will expose them as fraudulent. The condition can affect anyone, regardless of their job or social status. About 70% of people will experience at least one episode of imposter syndrome in their lifetime.

Many people experience symptoms for a limited time , such as in the first few weeks of a new job. Others may struggle with feelings of incompetence throughout their lives. It is a feeling that can make a person feel that they are less valuable than they really are.

How to know if you have impostor syndrome

A person’s sense of self-confidence can help you determine a realistic assessment of your accomplishments, validity, competence, and ability. But if the feeling of doubt is too present in your life, it can be more difficult to develop a realistic self-image. This can lead to distress symptoms that characterize imposter syndrome. People with imposter syndrome can:

– Worry that they will not live up to expectations.

-Avoid responsibilities additional to their own

-They worry a lot about what others will think of their abilities

-They attribute success to external factors

-They have little confidence in themselves

-Fear to fail

-Work dissatisfaction, you feel unhappy at work due to a multitude of factors

-They do not believe they deserve a raise or do not ask for it in case they deny its value

-They set extremely challenging and difficult goals to achieve (and by not reaching them they feel less valuable)

Types of Imposter Syndrome

The expert

The expert will not be satisfied with completing a task until he feels that he knows everything about it. Experts continually search for new information, which prevents them from completing tasks and projects.

The perfectionist

People who aspire to perfection often experience high levels of anxiety, doubt, and worry, especially when they fail to achieve their extreme goals. Perfectionists are generally dissatisfied with their work. They just think they could have done better.

The genius

The genius is able to master a new skill quickly and easily, and they often feel embarrassed and weak when they cannot. These people do not recognize that almost everyone needs to develop their skills throughout their lives to be successful.

The individual

They prefer to work alone and they think that asking for help will only make others think that they are not capable of doing things for themselves. You can decline help so that you can prove yourself as an individual … even if you need it.

The superhero

Superheroes often excel in all areas, mainly because they try so hard. Many workaholics can be classified as superheroes. This overload will make them mentally and physically exhausted . Your general well-being will be seriously damaged.

How to overcome impostor syndrome

If you think you suffer from impostor syndrome, they will not diagnose it, but you can find a solution to have a better quality of life. Some ways to overcome it include:

-Talk about what happens to you. Talking about your symptoms with a trusted friend, family member, or mental health professional is an important first step. It helps people to distinguish between their perception and the reality of their situation.

-Celebrate your successes. People who feel like imposters are often surprised when they see a written record of their accomplishments, so document all of your accomplishments. It is also important to celebrate the successes and recognize which skills contributed to the positive results.

-Accept that perfection does not exist. You must accept yourself with your strengths and weaknesses. This is necessary to have good self-esteem . No one is perfect and mistakes are an important part of life learning.

-Challenge your negative thoughts. If you have negative thoughts, you must challenge them to feel better. You can work with a cognitive behavioral therapy psychologist to change your negative thoughts for positive ones.