Impact Of Imposter Syndrome On Mental Health

Imposter Syndrome meaning and impact on mental health : The feeling of being a fraud is often associated with imposter syndrome. The time when a person feels like she/he aren't up to the mark of what people may think of her/him as the condition is called imposter syndrome.

This is linked to other conditions like perfectionism and the social context. It affects people irrespective of their social status, work background, skill level or expertise degree.

According to a study conducted by the University of Houston, impostor syndrome can have serious consequences for mental wellbeing and can affect people’s personal relationships and home life. Lisa Sublett, Lisa Penney, and Holly Hutchins surveyed 463 employees in the southern United States over the age of 18 who worked at least 20 hours per week and had been in the same job for at least 6 months.

What they found was that employees experiencing impostor syndrome are more likely to have a conflict with work and family roles because they are emotionally exhausted, and they tend to be less satisfied with family life because of it.

Sublett said, "Constantly feeling like a fake, ruminating on errors, and perfectionism at work are very challenging and draining, so it is an important topic to study to understand the negative implications for employees’ work and personal life."

A person may experience the following problems due to imposter syndrome-

• Self-doubt
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Suicidal thoughts
• Eating disorders
• Dissociation and dissociative disorders

Further, these problems extend towards physical problems too. As if we are well aware, an unhealthy mind cannot keep the body healthy, it is very important one takes note of the mental health problems that come from imposter syndrome.

A person with a social anxiety disorder (SAD) may feel as though they don't belong in social or performance situations. Impostor syndrome and social anxiety may overlap. If you feel vulnerable or low and get suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the helpline number. You are special and you are needed.

Unfortunately, many women unknowingly fall prey to imposter syndrome due to the beauty standards set by society. Very less few women actually question second-hand information and check its authenticity. In fact, if more women did, then they would have found absolutely no valid reason to be conscious of their looks. If every woman was mean to look the way society expects them to then all the women in the world would have looked the same.