Over the past few years, mental health buzzwords have exploded in popularity due to social media. The words “toxic”, “gaslighting”, and “trauma” have now become commonplace, and a lot of their original meaning has been lost. In the midst of all of this therapy talk, one phrase in particular stood out to me: imposter syndrome.
According to the National Library of Medicine, imposter syndrome is defined as “self-doubt of intellect, skills, or accomplishments among high-achieving individuals.” In other words, it’s feeling like you aren’t as good as people think you are. Some related characteristics to imposter syndrome include perfectionism, Atychiphobia (fear of failure), and denial of one’s own capability. The term was first developed in 1978 by Dr. Suzanne Imes and Dr. Pauline Rose Clance, after observing successful individuals in marginalized groups, such as women.
I realized a few years ago that I deal with a lot of imposter syndrome. I was one of those “gifted kids” in elementary school who was always at the top of the class, and I made my self-worth synonymous with my grades. So, as I got older and started to struggle through certain classes, I began to think that I wasn’t actually as smart as I thought I was. I thought I was a fraud, and that I didn’t deserve any of the things I’ve worked so hard for. Fun, right?
Luckily, in the past year, especially in the three months I’ve been in college, I’ve developed a few coping strategies for my imposter syndrome. However, even though these strategies work well for me, they are not scientifically backed by anyone in any way. Enjoy!
Strategy 1: Positive Self-Talk
Another “therapy talk” thing that TikTok is obsessed with is positive affirmations, where you use specifically first-person language to say nice things about yourself. So, sometimes I give myself a little positive affirmations pep-talk, filled with phrases like “I have earned my spot in this university” or “I am good enough.” Sometimes, hearing it out loud impacts me more than just thinking it.
Strategy 2: Take a Break
There have been times where I fail an exam, or struggle through an assignment, and I just get so stressed that I burst into tears. Rather than dwell on it, I recognize that it might be better to do something else in that moment. I usually watch some TV, go get something to eat, or take a nap. When I come back from my little distraction, I usually feel better about myself. Self care is important!
Strategy 3: “Because I said so…”
This strategy is by far my favorite because it’s so much fun. For this, I take a positive affirmation, and add the phrase “because my mom said so” at the end. For example, “I am a good person because my mom thinks I am.” This does work for people besides just my mom, FYI. This strategy is especially refreshing because it makes me feel better about myself while reminding me of all my loved ones. Thanks, y’all!
This was just my experiences with imposter syndrome, but feel free to check out more resources on how to deal with it!