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Overcoming Imposter Syndrome with Peer Support: Part 1

Ever felt like a fake? A fraud? A walking example of false advertising? You may have or continue to experience the phenomenon known as ‘Imposter Syndrome’. Imposter Syndrome was observed and defined by Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes in 1978. Imposter Syndrome is, “the condition of feeling anxious and not experiencing success internally, despite being high-performing in external, objective ways. This condition often results in people feeling like “a fraud” or “a phony” and doubting their abilities.”

Here are the most common characteristics of imposter syndrome:

• Burnout
• Self-doubt
• Undervaluing contributions
• Attributing success to external factors
• Sabotaging self-success
• Setting unrealistic expectations
• Constant fear of not living up to expectations

As Peer Recovery Specialists, our job is to meet peers right where they are and then walk alongside them as they begin to make changes in their lives for the better. Many peers suffer from Imposter Syndrome as a vague feeling of personal unworthiness and self-identification as a failure but have no words or knowledge that there is a term for those very experiences. This is where we can come in and provide support that can really change their lives if they are open to receiving assistance around this struggle. Here are 5 ways to start that process with another peer:

1. Understand the ‘voice’ – Knowledge is power. Knowledge rightfully applied is even more powerful. In this instance, take a moment to understand that the ‘voice’ or ‘thoughts’ in our head are coming from a certain belief system that is not based in reality. Therefore, you can question the validity of the message of the voice/thoughts.
2. Consider the evidence – Hard evidence is hard to beat. Look at your successes. They are real. They happened and…wait for it…they were successful regardless of how you feel about it. It is a fact. Facts trump feelings. 
3. Practice self-compassion – Give yourself a break. No, seriously, give yourself a break. Only you can prevent Imposter Syndrome. It starts with giving yourself a break and cutting yourself some slack. 
4. Refocus on your values – Values drive our actions and outcomes. When we focus on and align with, or realign in this case, our values, it will dictate our future actions AND the underlying reason why we do what we do. This is very powerful. 
5. Use the Reframing Technique – Reframing is just another way of saying looking at something “from a different angle”. We can often be myopic (narrow in vision) and miss the forest for the single tree. Observing, testing, challenging and changing our view of ourselves is a very powerful tool in the fight against Imposter Syndrome. 

As Peer Recovery Specialists, our job is to meet peers right where they are and then walk alongside them as they begin to make changes in their lives for the better. Many peers suffer from Imposter Syndrome as a vague feeling of personal unworthiness and self-identification as a failure but have no words or knowledge that there is a term for those very experiences. This is where we can come in and provide support that can really change their lives if they are open to receiving assistance around this struggle. If left unchecked, it can wreak havoc in our personal and/or professional lives. Let’s stop this from happening. What do you say?

Stay tuned for next week’s blog with 5 more tips to overcoming Imposter Syndrome! 

* I am indebted to this article by Amal Saymeh around this topic.