According to the UFMG School of Medicine, WHO does not consider impostor syndrome a mental health issue. While some articles use this term, it should be referred to as impostor thoughts or feelings. Currently, this issue is gaining more attention in psychology studies. Impostor thoughts are related to people who have achieved some success in their projects, careers, or even recognition, but they do not feel deserving of this success.

Thoughts like, “I just got lucky” or “I am a fraud,” affect people with this disorder who have difficulty recognizing their qualities. This causes them to self-sabotage with destructive processes in their relationships and careers.

That’s why we wrote this article to show you more in-depth what this “syndrome” is, its consequences on people’s lives, and how hypnosis can help. So, check it out below!

What is the “impostor syndrome”?

According to Medical News Today, people with the “syndrome” constantly doubt their achievements and abilities, fearing they might be a fraud. In this case, the patient with this “syndrome” nurtures negative thoughts with self-deprecation, continuously compares themselves to others, and creates a constant dependency on public validation.

This dependency happens because it is the way the patient finds some assurance of their qualities. This ends up generating symptoms in the patient such as the fear of being discovered as a fraud and the difficulty of internalizing their success. But even when recognized by others, they only attribute their success to external factors.

Types of impostor syndrome

This problem can appear in various different forms. The most common ones are listed below:

• The perfectionist: Perfectionists are never satisfied and always think their work could be better. Instead of focusing on their strengths, they tend to fixate on any flaws or mistakes. This often leads to a lot of pressure on themselves and high levels of anxiety;
• The superhero: Since these individuals feel inadequate, they feel compelled to work as hard as possible;
• The expert: These people are always trying to learn more and are never satisfied with their level of understanding. Although they are often highly qualified, they underestimate their own expertise;
• The natural genius: These individuals set excessively high goals for themselves and then feel crushed when they don’t succeed on the first try;
• The soloist: These people tend to be very individualistic and prefer to work alone. Their self-esteem often stems from their productivity, so they often reject offers of assistance. They tend to see asking for help as a sign of weakness or incompetence.

Causes of impostor syndrome

The causes of this problem are not yet exact, but what can be recognized in studies is that it may affect women more than men. According to a study by Georgia State University, women who have the potential to be brilliant have a family member who is considered the most intelligent. Because of this, there are comparisons within the family that can convince the woman that she is not as capable of reaching brilliant levels of intelligence.

Even if she gets better grades and excels in her studies, with academic recognition and from teachers, the impact of the lack of family recognition can be greater than the recognition from others. This can cause her to question her intelligence and credibility achieved through her effort at times.

In a BBC news article, Michelle Obama cites some accounts from her life that show how having race, gender, and ability stigmas can provoke this negative thinking in people. See below:

“Entering an elite college when your high school counselor said you weren’t good enough, when society views black kids or kids from rural communities as ‘not belonging’… I, and many other kids like me, entered there carrying a stigma,” said former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama in a recent visit to the UK.

“Nowadays, younger kids call this Impostor Syndrome. They feel like they don’t fit in, they don’t belong. I had to work hard to overcome that question I (still) ask myself: ‘Am I good enough?’ It’s a question that haunts me for much of my life. Am I up to all of this? Am I up to being the First Lady of the United States?”

A study in PMC shows a predominance of burnout and impostor syndrome cases in male medical students. In other words, it is still difficult to define whether this syndrome has manifested due to specific demographic issues like gender.

With these accounts, we can already have an idea of the consequences of this syndrome in patients’ lives, but let’s explore this more deeply below.

What are the consequences of impostor syndrome?

Since the “syndrome” does not allow the patient to have an awareness of their capabilities and only see limitations, they may face difficulties in having ambitions and pursuing more challenging projects for their life. Even if they achieve a commendable academic or professional career, a stable romantic relationship, and recognition from others, the person may still be unhappy, believing they do not deserve any of these things.

That’s why self-sabotage is common in people with the “syndrome,” who end up ending their romantic relationships because they think they are not good enough for their partners or opting for a simpler career that does not match their true potential.

Additionally, the person may suffer from anxiety and fear generated by the possibility of failure. Failure would lead the person to be “discovered” as someone who was just being overrated, and this can lead the patient to not be able to detach from work, fearing they did something wrong.

Now, how can the patient get help to combat this “syndrome” and start recognizing their value? Check it out below!

How can hypnosis help?

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), with small considerations from the Brazilian Society of Hypnosis (SBH), hypnosis can be defined as a state of consciousness [intentionally induced] that involves focused attention and reduced peripheral awareness, characterized by an enhanced capacity for response to suggestion. In this state, the subject is led to experience changes in sensations, perceptions, thoughts, or behavior [goal-oriented].

With hypnosis, the subject becomes more open to new learning by reducing the patient’s anxiety and increasing their relaxation. It is also easier for the patient, when in a trance, to access and understand the triggers that make them feel like an impostor. Thus, the patient becomes more willing to reflect on the thoughts they are having about their abilities and starts to accept the therapist’s insights better.

We have listed some insights that the therapist can use, according to verywell mind, to help their patient. See below:

• Share your feelings. Talk to others about how you are feeling. These irrational beliefs tend to fester when they are hidden and not discussed;
• Focus on others. Although it may seem counterintuitive, try helping others in the same situation as you. If you see someone who seems awkward or alone, ask them a question to bring them into the group. As you practice your skills, you will develop confidence in your own abilities;
• Assess your abilities. If you have long-standing beliefs about your incompetence in social and performance situations, make a realistic assessment of your abilities. Write down your accomplishments and what you are good at, and compare this with your self-assessment;
• Take small steps. Don’t focus on doing things perfectly, but rather, do things reasonably well and reward yourself for taking action. For example, in a group conversation, give an opinion or share a story about yourself;
• Question your thoughts. As you begin to assess your abilities and take small steps, question if your thoughts are rational. Does it make sense that you are a fraud, considering everything you know?;
• Stop comparing. Every time you compare yourself to others in a social situation, you will find some flaw in yourself that fuels the feeling of not being good enough or not belonging. Instead, during conversations, focus on listening to what the other person is saying. Be genuinely interested in learning more;
• Use social media moderately. We know that excessive use of social media can be related to feelings of inferiority. If you try to portray an image on social media that does not match who you really are or is impossible to achieve, it will only worsen your feeling of being a fraud;
• Stop fighting your feelings. Don’t fight the feelings of not belonging. Instead, try to lean into them and accept them. Only when you acknowledge them can you begin to unravel the core beliefs that are holding you back;
• Refuse to let it hold you back. No matter how much you feel you don’t belong, don’t let that stop you from pursuing your goals. Keep going and refuse to be interrupted.

With these good practices applied by the person, it is possible for them to combat impostor syndrome and its effects on their life. For this, a therapist prepared to use hypnosis can enhance their care and better assist their patients, helping them deal with the emotional symptoms of the “syndrome” and facilitating the patient’s acceptance of their condition.

If you enjoyed this content and want to learn more about how hypnosis can be useful for various emotional problems, download our free e-book, the Complete Self-Hypnosis Manual for health professionals.

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