S1E12: Imposter Syndrome: How to Deal When You Feel You Don't Belong

Ever wonder, “How did I get here? I’m not as good as everyone else here. What’s going to happen to me when they find out I’m not as smart as them?” If you answered, “yes” then chances are you have experienced Impostor Phenomenon or Imposter Syndrome. This experience was initially coined to describe the experiences of White women who believed their achievements were a result of happenstance; lived in fear of being taken as a fraud; and setting sometimes unrealistic high standards of achievement. This syndrome may be more exacerbated in people of color, particularly women, who often receive societal messages of not belonging or not good enough. (Cokely, K., et. al., 2013).

In this week’s episode, join Dom and Terri as they discuss Imposter Syndrome/Impostor Phenomenon, its effects on our well-being and ways to combat it. Terri begins with a story and unintentionally ends up “on the couch” with Dr. Dom who challenges Terri to re-examine how she describes herself. Keep listening and you’ll get tips (through Dom and Terri’s own experiences) on how to check yourself and remind yourself that you are exactly where you are supposed to be.

Quote of the Day:

“At the end of the day, remember this: You are here for a reason. In this job, your business, your life, you are worthy. You are better than you think you are. You are smarter than you think you are. You know more than you give yourself credit for. Remember that. Remind yourself as often as you need to.” - Megan Dalla-Camina

Takeaways:

Ways to Conquer Imposter Syndrome/Impostor Phenomenon:

Be realistic about your strengths and weaknesses
Alter your narrative/Reframe your thinking
Celebrate your accomplishments
Recognize these feelings are normal
Access your support system

Resources:

Clance, P.R. (1985). The impostor phenomenon: Overcoming the fear that haunts your success (p. 25). Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers.
Cokely, K., McClain, S., Enciso, A., Martinez, M. (2013). An examination of the impact of minority status stress and impostor feelings on the mental health of diverse ethnic minority college students. Journal of multicultural counseling and development, 41, 82-95.
Craig, L. (2018). Are you suffering from imposter syndrome? Ways to identify and deal with feelings of self-doubt in grad school. https://www.apa.org/science/about/psa/2018/09/imposter-syndrome.aspx
Robinson, A. (2017). Overcoming imposter syndrome. How to stop feeling like a fraud. https://www.apadivisions.org/division-28/publications/newsletters/psychopharmacology/2017/11/imposter-syndrome.aspx?_ga=2.218253150.610534608.1538685330-364524485.1533165585
Weir, K. (2013). Feel like a fraud? https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2013/11/fraud.aspx