You’re Not Alone in Feeling Like a Fake
Picture this: You just nailed a presentation, received praise from your boss, or got an A on that paper you stressed over for weeks. But instead of feeling proud, your brain immediately whispers, “They’re going to figure out I have no idea what I’m doing.” Sound familiar? You’re definitely not alone.
This nagging voice has a name: impostor syndrome. It’s that persistent feeling that you’re fooling everyone around you and that any day now, someone’s going to tap you on the shoulder and say, “Sorry, there’s been a mistake. You don’t belong here.”
What’s Really Going On?
Impostor syndrome isn’t just feeling nervous before a big meeting or doubting yourself occasionally; at least that’s normal. It’s the deeper conviction that you’re fundamentally not qualified for the success you’ve achieved. You chalk up your wins to luck, timing, or people being “too nice,” while secretly fearing you’ll be exposed as a fraud.
Here’s the kicker: research shows that 75% of people have experienced impostor syndrome, and it’s actually more common among high achievers. The better you do, the louder that inner critic gets.
The Cruel Irony
The most accomplished people often struggle with this the most. That colleague who seems to have it all figured out? They’re probably googling “Am I qualified enough?” at 2 AM just like you. Recent data shows impostor syndrome positively predicted suicidal ideation, highlighting how seriously this affects mental health.
University students are particularly vulnerable because academic environments are basically impostor syndrome factories: constant evaluation, peer comparison, and that “lovely” tradition of being graded on everything you do.
What Does It Actually Look Like?
Maybe you recognise these patterns:
- You work twice as hard as necessary because you’re convinced you’re behind everyone else
- When someone compliments your work, you immediately deflect: “Oh, it was nothing” or “I just got lucky”
- You avoid applying for opportunities because you don’t meet 100% of the requirements (spoiler: hardly anyone does)
- You lie awake replaying that one mistake from three months ago
- You’re convinced everyone else belongs here except you
The Good News
Here’s what’s important to understand: feeling like an impostor doesn’t make you one. Often, it just means you care about doing well and you’re growing beyond your comfort zone. The research shows that these feelings are so common that they’re more normal than abnormal.
Why This Matters Now
In our hyperconnected world where everyone’s highlight reel is on display 24/7, impostor syndrome is becoming even more prevalent. Social media doesn’t help when you’re comparing your behind-the-scenes struggles to everyone else’s polished final products.
Moving Forward
Recognising impostor syndrome is the first step to dealing with it. In the following blogs, we’ll dive into how this shows up specifically in academic settings, corporate environments, and student life, and more importantly, what you can actually do about it.
Remember: You earned your spot. You deserve to be here. And that little voice saying otherwise? It’s wrong more often than it’s right.
References
- Frontiers in Psychology, Volume 15 (2024). “Interventions addressing the impostor phenomenon: a scoping review”
- Middle East Current Psychiatry (2025). “Impostor phenomenon: a narrative review of manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment”
- Current Psychology (2023). “The imposter phenomenon and its relationship with self-efficacy, perfectionism and happiness in university students”
- Journal of Sage Publications (2024). “Social support buffered the relation between impostor syndrome and suicidal ideation”
- HRD America (2024). “Searches for Impostor Syndrome surge 75% in 2024”
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