Imposter Syndrome

[elfs]

Yeah, I know how this feels:

The problem was he believed he was a fraud, whatever the manifest signs of his accomplishments and success. If he published, he believed, he would be found out by his scientific peers and revealed for the imposter he knew he was. My colleague, in other words, was a victim of Imposter Syndrome.

Comments

[featheredfrog.livejournal.com]

Aah, yes, the "sheep in wolf's clothing" feeling.

Knows it well, we does...

[scyllacat.livejournal.com]

*nods* I could write my own essay. on the face of it, Imposter Syndrome is a model of "I'm not OK; you're OK." I have lived there a long time.

and if you got over it, you might think: "is this all there is? nothing more to aspire to?" would you belong to a club that would accept you as a member?

I personally aspire to being like you... scary, ain't it? :)

[dossy.livejournal.com]

I first learned of Impostor Syndrome when my previous therapist said I have been exhibiting the symptoms.

I wonder what the causal basis is.

[zonereyrie.livejournal.com]

Yeah, sometimes I have near panic attacks at work, like today when things go all pear shaped, and the voice in my head is screaming at me that I don't know what I'm doing, I'm not qualified for the job, and everyone knows it, etc.

[hlmt.livejournal.com]

Oh. I had no idea this was an actual syndrome. Well, I'm glad to know it's not gender-specific, but for this woman high up in academia that sure sounded like a spot-on diagnosis.

How bizarre.

wow

[amberite2112.livejournal.com]

i really thought i came up with that one all by myself, somewhere in the late 70's. i still feel i don't 'belong' here - in this life, in this era, on this planet, even, sometimes. i don't know why i haven't been unmasked for the alien freak i am yet. another feature of this for me is that i seem to live in fear of being found out. the punishment is non-specific, but horrid. sort of like "waiting for c'thulu".