Imposter Syndrome: When We Do Not Value Our Successes
What is imposter syndrome? The term was coined in 1978 by psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes.
Although it is not a clinical disorder per se (as it is not classified nosologically in any medical or clinical diagnostic treatise), imposter syndrome is defined as the psychological and emotional displeasure that has been directly related to the individual emotion of not being deserving. of the place (and/or recognitions) that the patient finds himself occupying or enjoying (as a result of his personal abilities) at the work, academic and social levels.
So, if this condition is not classified in the different clinical diagnostic manuals, how is it possible to talk about it? It is because under this term a series of clinical symptoms have been grouped that cause emotional distress which, due to its characteristics, differs from known and classified disorders, but generates distress in the patient.
Epidemiology is indistinct between professionals and non-professionals, it does not distinguish between men and women and, approximately, seven out of ten people have suffered from it at some point in their lives.
This syndrome usually appears in students with excellent grades and, to a greater extent, in successful professionals; It is known that its appearance has a high correlation with low self-esteem and poor self-concept of the individual.
A pathological modesty
Another important factor for its appearance is usually the contemptuous or critical attitude on the part of people who share the environment of the disturbed subject who envy their achievements.
The person who is suffering from this condition feels that they never live up to everything they enjoy as a result of their success. and capabilities. The individual has the persistent feeling of not being good enough at what he does, in addition to classifying himself as useless or incapable; Furthermore, he accuses himself of being an impostor, a complete fraud in everything he does.
In this syndrome, the patient safely assumes that his success is a matter of luck and chance and never due to his own intelligence and abilities.
Symptoms
Some of its most frequent symptoms are the following:
How to overcome it?
Curiously, this feeling of not being prepared enough It disappears as time passes and the individual gains more experience in the field in which he or she works..
To overcome the condition, it is important that the individual does not reject or ignore compliments or congratulations, he must accept them, they are the result of his effort!
It is important that the person helps others, thus, by obtaining a result together, they will shape their thoughts as they realize that the other person has achieved their goal through the intervention of the person who suffers from the syndrome, thus, Little by little, the false idea that success is due to chance will be uprooted..
