Tackling imposter syndrome
Imposter syndrome is a form of self-doubt which centers around feelings of inadequacy and the pervasive internalised feeling that you do not belong. This is representative of a conflict between your own self-perception and the way others perceive you.
It is currently categorised as a phenomenon, not a mental disorder. Imposter syndrome can affect anyone and is not limited to a specific personality type, success level, or sex.
When female athletes are experiencing imposter syndrome it is common for them to attribute their athletic success as being a fortunate coincidence or a result of their coach’s efforts, ultimately discounting their athletic ability.
What are common characteristics of imposter syndrome?
People experiencing imposter syndrome can experience a variety of symptoms however the most common symptoms include:
- Feelings of anxiety
- Overachieving behaviour
- Sabotaging your own performance
- Attributing any success to external factors
- Inability of assessing your competency and skill
- Setting extreme goals you cannot realistically achieve pre-empting your disappointment
More specifically in the context of your athletic performance, it can manifest in the form of:
- Performance anxiety
- Discounting praise
- Demeaning your performance
- Fault finding and obsessing over the mistakes within your performances
- Feelings you may not be capable enough execute certain skills
- Being unable to internalise and accept your athletic success as an achievement of your own
- Feelings you may not be skilled enough to have a position within a team or event
What are tips to overcome imposter syndrome?
While there is no specific treatment, there are a number of strategies to help manage and overcome this phenomenon.
Some tips to help you manage this include:
- Identify and acknowledge your imposter feelings
- Share your feelings with someone you trust
- Acknowledge your achievements when they occur and accentuate the positives
- When you become conscious of any negative thoughts or self-doubt, try question and challenge those thoughts rationally
- Avoid comparing yourselves to others where possible (e.g., to your teammates, social media influencers etc.)
- Understand it may take some time to work through imposter syndrome and be gentle with yourself
How can I seek further advice?
If you are struggling feelings of imposter syndrome and feel you would like additional support, we encourage you to seek the assistance of a psychologist. Consulting a psychologist can be beneficial in helping you acknowledge how you’re feeling, identify your imposter feelings, and create new behaviour to push past your feelings of self-doubt.
