Is there a difference between Imposter Syndrome and normal self-doubt?

As we enter a new season of new opportunities and growth, you may feel excited about the things to come, but there may also be feelings of uncertainty weighing upon your mind. For example, “Do I deserve to be here?”; “Is my success just a fluke?”; “Are people only complimenting me just to be nice?”; “What if they find out that I’m not competent?”. This line of thinking is commonly linked to Imposter Syndrome, which is defined as the tendency to believe you are undeserving of your success, despite your accolades and achievements, and that one day you will be exposed as a fraud, according to HelpGuide.org. It is important to avoid this type of thinking, as it can cause your mental health to plummet. However, you are probably wondering if there is a distinction between imposter syndrome and feeling a normal level of self-doubt.
The short answer? Yes.
The long answer? While it is true that there is some overlap between self-doubt and imposter syndrome, there are key differences that we need to keep track of. Self-doubt is defined as a lack of confidence in one’s abilities. The important thing to note is that every person with imposter syndrome has self-doubt, but not every person with self-doubt has imposter syndrome.

The Differences Between Imposter Syndrome and Self-Doubt

The first and main difference between imposter syndrome and normal self-doubt is the duration of each. Feelings of self-doubt are infrequent and temporary. When working towards a certain goal, a healthy amount of self-doubt is expected. However, with imposter syndrome, those feelings of inadequacy are chronic and debilitating. Thoughts of unworthiness constantly occupy your mind and negatively affect your work and personal life.

Another difference is the fact that imposter syndrome has a stronger effect on your mental health than self-doubt. Imposter syndrome can cause you to overwork yourself because you don’t want to be seen as a “fraud,” which can lead to burnout as well as depression and anxiety. Self-doubt has less of an impact on mental health because, since it’s short-lived, it has less control over you.

The final difference is how each person accepts feedback. Those who have self-doubt tend to embrace positive feedback more easily than those with imposter syndrome. If someone with self-doubt receives praise for something they did, they are more likely to take it to heart, and if they receive negative feedback, they’ll see it as a learning opportunity so that they can improve their skills. However, if someone with imposter syndrome receives positive feedback, they are likely to reject it, believing that they are not worthy of such praise, even if there is evidence that they deserve it. Additionally, if they receive negative feedback, that will validate their concerns about not being competent and send them down a downward spiral of shame and anxiety.

Conclusion:

Overall, while imposter syndrome and normal self-doubt share similar characteristics, it is important to remember that imposter syndrome is a heavily debilitating mindset that can lead to self-sabotage, burnout, and anxiety, while self-doubt is something that is normal in moderation. Although imposter syndrome and self-doubt are different things, they can both be remedied in similar ways. You can build a network of mentors and peers who might have the same struggles as you and seek guidance from them. You can take the time to celebrate your accomplishments and skills and challenge your negative thoughts by asking yourself, “Do people really have proof that I’m a fraud?”. Learning does not stop once you finish college. By setting realistic goals for yourself, imposter syndrome will have less of an effect on you because you’ll understand that every failure is a learning opportunity and that not everything has to be perfect.

You get to decide how much imposter syndrome and self doubt impact your life every day.