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Do you often feel like a fraud or phony in your work, school, or personal life? Learn about the causes of these feelings of inadequacy and how to overcome the imposter phenomenon.
Imposter syndrome, sometimes spelled impostor syndrome, is the tendency to believe your success is undeserved and that someday people will realize you’re a fraud. The belief persists even when concrete evidence, such as degrees or awards, proves that you are worthy of your accomplishments. Imposter syndrome is not a diagnosable mental illness, but it’s a cognitive distortion that may affect as many as 70 to 80 percent of people at some point in their lives.
If you struggle with imposter syndrome, you tend to rationalize away your status and success. You may feel like you only landed your current job title because someone felt bad for you, or that your high GPA is just a matter of luck. The imposter phenomenon isn’t limited to school and work life. You might also experience it in your romantic relationships, parenting efforts, or even in your hobbies. Fortunately, it is possible to tame your fears and sense of inadequacy. It all starts with developing a better understanding of imposter syndrome.
Although imposter syndrome always involves high standards, not everyone who experiences this phenomenon has the exact same mindset. Different people will hold themselves to different standards and have different definitions of “competence.”
In her book, “The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women,” Valerie Young Ed.D identifies five forms of imposter syndrome:
Not everyone will fit neatly into a single category. You might identify with traits of more than one subtype. However, having a basic understanding of these subtypes can help you recognize and address the underlying thoughts and beliefs contributing to your feelings of inadequacy.
Impostorism is more than just ordinary self-doubt. After all, you can have self-doubt without feeling like a fraud or imposter. While impostor syndrome isn’t a diagnosable condition, there are a few symptoms you can keep an eye out for (although not everyone with imposter syndrome experiences all of these characteristics):
Imposter Cycle. Some people get caught in what researchers call the “Imposter Cycle”. When faced with an assignment or task, your anxiety and self-doubt lead you to either overprepare or procrastinate, the latter being followed by a frantic push to get the work done on time.
Once the task is complete, you may briefly feel good about your achievement, but that relief doesn’t last. Instead of accepting positive feedback from those around you, you explain away your success:
Perfectionism. You might have a desire to be the best among your peer group. You want to be employee of the month, top of the class, the fastest, the smartest, the most productive. When you make mistakes or fail to reach those unattainable standards, you feel deep shame or humiliation. In situations where you’re surrounded by other intelligent or skilled people, you feel discouraged and dismiss your own abilities.
Overpreparation. You tend to want to be overprepared. Maybe you go above and beyond in studying for class, or perhaps you overwork yourself to be seen as a perfect parent or spouse. All of this eventually affects your mental health and puts you at risk of burnout.
Fear of failure. The thought of failure terrifies you because it brings on feelings of shame. It builds on that internal narrative that says you’re an imposter, you don’t belong. Failure also seems to bring you one step closer to being exposed as a fraud. To avoid failure, you overwork and overprepare.
Denial of your abilities. You tend to explain away your accomplishments, talents, and skills. You overlook or completely reject praise, compliments, and positive feedback from others. This isn’t the same as being a modest person. Instead, you attribute your success to random chance or some other external factors.
Fear of success. You may fear that being successful will result in other people raising their expectations of you. For example, a promotion at work could result in more responsibilities. You might feel that as those expectations and demands rise, so do the chances of you being exposed as a fraud. You might also fear success because it could make you feel more distant from those around you. For example, maybe you worry about being rejected by your peers.
Despite how widespread it is, impostorism can be isolating. People generally don’t share their imposter experiences because part of the distortion involves fearing that others will realize that you’re undeserving or incompetent. Instead, you’re more likely to suffer in silence.
Imposter syndrome can shape your behavior and affect many areas of your life. If you feel like an imposter in academia, you might believe you need to work yourself to exhaustion to fit in. At work, fear of being seen as a phony could lead you to turn down promotions and stunt your professional growth. Similarly, in your hobbies, a fear of failure can prevent you from trying out new things, like joining a sports team or experimenting with new crafts or creative endeavors.
In relationships, you might feel you’re unworthy of your partner’s love. Your self-doubt could lead you to constantly seek reassurance, placing greater stress on the relationship. If you’re a parent with imposter syndrome, you might unfavorably compare yourself with other parents. Or you may have unrealistically high expectations that you unintentionally push onto your children, or even your spouse.
Imposter syndrome can also be a systemic issue. For example, if you’re a woman, a racial minority, or part of another marginalized group, feelings of self-doubt and perceived shortcomings can discourage you from making your voice heard or pursuing opportunities in college or the workplace. This can curb diversity and hinder the spread of new ideas and perspectives.
Imposter syndrome often occurs alongside depression and anxiety. Depression can make it difficult for you to acknowledge your victories and strengths, while anxiety can lead you to fixate on how others perceive you. Failing to reach your own high standards will only further contribute to feelings of anxiety or despair.
Multiple factors can contribute to feelings of inadequacy or impostorism, including your personality, upbringing, and work environment.
Personality. Research shows that people who are highly neurotic—meaning easily upset or prone to anxiety—are more likely to experience imposter syndrome. The same is true for people who are perfectionists. Low self-esteem is also related to a higher risk of imposter feelings.
[Read: Personality Types, Traits, and How it Affects Mental Health]
Upbringing and parenting style. A person’s early relationship with their parents can play a role in the development of impostorism. For example, if your parents were overprotective or controlling, you may be more at risk. Similarly, it’s more common when a family puts a high priority on achievement or when parents are inconsistent in how they criticize or praise their children.
Being different from peers. Being different from peers might increase your susceptibility to imposter feelings. For instance, in the workplace or classroom, you might differ from those around you in terms of ethnicity, race, gender, age, or socioeconomic status. Hence why imposter syndrome seems to be more common in women and minority groups.
Social media. Many studies indicate that social media can affect your confidence and self-esteem. It’s easy to judge yourself harshly when you’re looking at a “highlight reel” of your peers’ adventures, successes, and achievements. One 2023 survey of LinkedIn users found that using the platform and browsing through other people’s posts triggered imposter thoughts. Those thoughts can then lead to negative emotions like anxiety and despondency.
Setting. Imposter syndrome seems to be very common in academia, especially in doctoral programs. It’s possible that these types of environments breed a culture of competitiveness. In the business world, marginalized individuals may feel undeserving when they notice that company leadership is dominated by people who are unlike them. For example, a woman may feel imposter syndrome when surrounded by only male leaders.
Overcoming imposter syndrome involves adopting a series of tools and strategies to change your self-perception.
Perhaps you relate to one or more of the five forms of imposter syndrome listed above, such as the expert or natural genius. Once you have identified your form of imposter syndrome, you can try a few strategies to change your perception of what it means to be competent and successful.
For instance, if you’re a perfectionist, consider that perfectionism can actually be a roadblock to success. It can make it harder for you to be present, hinder your creativity, and keep you from taking risks. So, practice being imperfect. Submit work that’s likely to receive a B+ rather than an A+. Be a few minutes late for a meeting. Leave your desk just a little more disorganized than usual. Tell yourself that “Good enough is often good enough.”
If you believe that you should naturally be an expert at any task, give yourself a reality check. Take up a task or hobby that you’re unfamiliar with. Try your hand at a new language or experiment with a new recipe. Allow yourself to get comfortable with being a novice and learning through repeated failures. If you feel frustrated, remind yourself, “Everyone is a work in progress, and I will always have room to grow.”
Think that you need to do everything yourself? Challenge yourself to decline or delegate work. Practice saying “no” when someone wants you to take on new responsibilities, especially if you’re already stretched thin. Knowing when and how to delegate frees you up to put your time, effort, and resources toward a single goal.
People with imposter syndrome often chalk their success entirely up to outside factors, such as luck, timing, or the kindness of others. But it’s important to acknowledge how your own actions contribute to your achievements. For example, you may believe you only got a job offer because someone recommended you. However, you likely did something to earn their confidence. You also took the initiative and seized on the opportunity to apply for the position.
Here are a few other tips for owning your successes.
Practice accepting compliments. You might instinctively dismiss your achievements, either verbally or internally. But the next time someone offers you praise, take a moment to pause and simply say, “Thank you.” Or take an extra step and tell the person that you appreciate them acknowledging your accomplishment. This exercise can help you break the cycle of diminishing your achievements and learn to internalize positive feedback.
Celebrate successes. Make a habit of rewarding yourself when you complete a task. The reward can be as simple as taking a break in your favorite coffee shop, or as lavish as a trip to a spa. The point is to create a mental connection between you and your success. Consider also treating yourself even if you didn’t succeed but gave it your best try. Acknowledge your efforts.
Having an inflated view of others can make you feel like you’re out of your league. You might build others up while tearing yourself down.
Open up. One of the simplest ways to challenge that perceived competency gap between you and those around you is to share your feelings with a mentor, trusted individual, or a therapist—either in-person or via a top-rated online therapy platform. Talking to others about your feelings can reduce the sense of isolation that comes with imposter syndrome. Sharing also gives other people the opportunity to share their perspectives on you. You might be surprised to find that others admire your talents. It’s also possible that they’ll relate to what you’re going through.
Look for the backstories. You might assume that the people around you have reached success with minimum effort, or that they’re naturally more talented or intelligent. Challenge those assumptions and get curious about other people’s journeys. Ask questions, read books, and listen to interviews with people you admire. You’re likely to find that even the most successful people have struggled and run into setbacks.
Cut back on social media. As previously mentioned, social media can tempt you to unfavorably compare your accomplishments with others and fuel feelings of inadequacy. Although social media can come with benefits, it’s possible to overdo the time spent on these platforms.
[Read: Social Media and Mental Health]
BetterHelp is an online therapy service that matches you to licensed, accredited therapists who can help with depression, anxiety, relationships, and more. Take the assessment and get matched with a therapist in as little as 48 hours.
Take Assessment HelpGuide is user supported. We earn a commission if you sign up for BetterHelp’s services after clicking through from this site. Learn moreImagine that, after a work meeting, you fixate on all the little mistakes you made, whether you failed to speak up or simply said the “wrong” thing. Perhaps you feel frustrated by your performance, or get stuck in a loop of negative self-talk, such as, “I’m so stupid. I don’t belong here.” Mindfulness practices, which involve a nonjudgmental awareness of your thoughts, can help mitigate those imposter feelings.
[Read: Benefits of Mindfulness]
Be an observer. Don’t disparage yourself for having negative thoughts or feelings. Just observe them as they show up and pass through your mind. It might be helpful to picture a conveyor belt, and then imagine each thought as an item moving along the belt. This allows you to slow down and put space between you and those racing thoughts and fears of inadequacy.
Challenge your thoughts. Once you’ve noticed a negative thought pattern, you can begin to challenge it. When you think, “I’m not qualified for this position,” consider the evidence to the contrary. Perhaps you’re frequently complimented on your skills. Or you could switch to a more optimistic view, such as, “I made a mistake, but I can improve and grow.”
For more help, try out HelpGuide’s 10-minute mindfulness meditation Being Kind to Yourself. You can also find more guidance on mindfulness through psychotherapy sessions with a mental health professional.
Last updated or reviewed on September 17, 2025How your personality impacts your health, mood, and relationships.
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