Practicing clinical psychologist Maria Gardiner clearly recalls the time a female client came to her Adelaide clinic for help…
“She was the deputy director of a medical unit — and was actually doing the work of the director at the time,” Maria explains. “But when she was formally offered the position, with its title and pay-rise, she turned it down. She just felt she really didn’t deserve the job, and that the expectation on her would be too great.”
This is just one example of someone living with “Impostor Syndrome” — an overwhelming belief that you don’t deserve the success you have.
“It’s when you’re doing well, achieving well and are successful … but overwhelmingly feel someone will tap you on the shoulder and say, ‘There’s been a mistake, sorry but you shouldn’t be here, leave please!'” Maria explains.
“It’s far more common among very high-achieving people such as those in the legal, medical and academic fields.
“Like any self-esteem issue, it’s often blamed on messages received during childhood; but it’s far greater among individuals with higher levels of sensitivity and anxiety.
“Often these people have been more than average students and have always stood out and been set apart from others. Then something about further and more public success triggers this off.
“So if someone’s done, say, 17 absolutely great things, but made one error, they’ll then focus about that one ‘bad’ thing and continue to punish themselves for it.
“It becomes a problem when it holds you back in your career and robs you of the pleasure of your achievements.”
You’re waiting for that tap on the shoulder, from someone saying your success is all a mistake.
You don’t ever tell people about your success, until it’s absolutely confirmed.
You believe you got where you are because you’re good at imitation — or as Maria likes to say, because of your own ‘rat cunning’.
You can’t accept positive comments and are painfully uncomfortable if someone praises your achievements.
You put your success down to luck.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
