Is Impostor Syndrome A Disease Or Mental Disorder?
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“Impostor Syndrome refers to high-achieving individuals marked by an inability to internalize their accomplishments and a persistent fear of being exposed as "fraud".”
Impostor Syndrome (I.S.) has also been characterized as a fear of being “found out” or “exposed” as not being talented, smart, or not deserving of accomplishments. It is not a disease or mental disorder.
I.S. has been cited to affect up to 70% of the population at some point in their life. It is especially common among graduate students and occurs frequently in this group compared to others. Individuals known to be high-achievers or perfectionists often experience feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, fear, depression, shame and self-doubt; all highly correlated with I.S.
I.S.…show more content… I was always able to study for a few hours and somehow, I just remembered everything on my study guide. In high school and college, I was jokingly ridiculed for my success, but there were times when people became upset. I was the guy that always set the curve or got an A when other people were failing. It is interesting looking back on it, because I remember in high school I told myself not to try. I actively sabotaged myself to fit in.
I started to notice what I know now as I.S. when I started graduate school. I have never been challenged like I was these last couple years. I was around the smartest people I had ever met. My professors would ask a question and someone was always there with the answer and early on, I did not even have a clue. This scared me! It caused me to dive deeper and deeper into my work. I developed a poor work-life balance. I stopped working out and made less time for family and friends. I had to make sure that I could keep up. I had to make sure that I could be a good clinician in the future.
“I owe it to my future patients to do well.”
I can remember during midterms and finals week, I kept my head down and kept working. I knew that all I had to do was get it done to feel better. I remember every new assignment added to an already full plate felt like defeat. I would feel numb sometimes. Interestingly, I always thought to myself that this is all part of the process and I should be able to do it. If I did not, I would be
ABSTRACT
Schizophrenia is a public health issue affecting 1% of the world population. Its disorders are characterized in general by distortions of thinking and perception, and by inappropriate or blunted affections. It still raises many doubts, anxieties and prejudices in relatives, friends and the entire society. The importance of overcoming the disease denial and prejudices is essential for the proper development of treatment. Gatherings from psychological and psychiatric observations blend in