Understanding and Managing Imposter Syndrome in Early Career

Have you found yourself wondering how the f*ck did you get to where you are? Like, why was I chosen of all people? Someone clearly made a mistake, right?  Basically, questioning your entire existence and capabilities because you felt like you were in a space where you didn’t belong… Yeah, same. For many people, especially high achieving successful people, our brains can try and trick us into believing we don’t belong in a space regardless of our trail of success stories and accomplishments. This phony feeling actually has a name, and it’s called imposter syndrome.

What is imposter syndrome? 

Simply put, imposter syndrome is high amounts of self doubt creeping in to convince you, you are a fake in a room full of, well, not fakes. It can make you want to crawl into a hole and disappear or cause you to feel like the spotlight is on you and more specifically on all of your perceived flaws and inadequacies. 

How would I know if I have imposter syndrome? 

You can start by acknowledging self doubt and noticing your thinking patterns in the moment. Maybe you start to notice signs such as increased anxiety, fear, a pattern of overworking or overcompensating, or refusing to acknowledge the successes you have accomplished, belittling yourself.

When are some common times people experience imposter syndrome?

Imposter syndrome can really occur at any given point and time; however, it is most common during periods of transition such as starting college, starting a new job/career, getting married, having kids, etc. For young adults, life transitions seem to be happening back to back, so it may be more common than you think. From graduating high school, leaving friends and meeting new ones in college, leaving college and those friends, starting careers, being thrust into more independence, figuring out life in a new career field, while navigating other shifts such as marriage, parenting, homeownership/renting, moving to a new city, taxes, the list goes on. It can take some time and additional support before a young adult starts to feel the confidence they need to challenge imposter syndrome.

How do I overcome imposter syndrome? 

For me, while it’s still a work in progress at times, I had to look around, ground myself to the present moment, and finally see life for what it is. We’re all just trying to figure it the f*ck out and some people are better at making it look easier than others, but no one is above this self doubt. Firstly, know you are not alone which hopefully allows you to breathe a little easier. Some other tips could be 

  • Practice self compassion (what would you tell a friend in this moment?)

  • Actually celebrate your wins in life because you deserve it

  • Challenge your negative/limiting beliefs with factual evidence that supports where you are

  • Acknowledge the imposter syndrome for what it is, just a temporary moment of intense self doubt that will pass with time and continuous achievements

What to do if imposter syndrome seems to be getting worse? 

If you are someone who feels there is persistent self doubt that increases anxiety and feeling overwhelmed, decreases self esteem, leading to debilitating feelings causing you to skip class, call out of work, ignore friends and family, increasing isolation, etc., then it can be wise to get some additional support from a mental health expert. At CoreWellness, LLC, we offer virtual individual therapy sessions with a specific focus on young adult mental health. Click here if you, or someone you know, could benefit from learning more on how to address these concerns.

Previous
Previous

Balancing Ambition with Self-Care: Avoiding Burnout in Your 20’s

Next
Next

Building resilience in your 20s: managing stress and anxiety