24/06/2024
I have been giving this talk about Coping with Imposter Syndrome to different groups of working adults.
What is imposter syndrome?
Imposter syndrome usually describes
- highly achieving individuals
- despite their objective successes
- fail to acknowledge their achievements
- often have persistent self doubt
- fear of being exposed as fraud/imposter
I discuss about a couple of factors contributing to this syndrome - family background, personality, existing mental health issues, new working environment, etc. One factor that I would like to emphasize is family background, especially family who values achievement above all else.
This factor reminds me of some of my clients who are highly achieved in their field yet they feel small among their other “even”-highly achieved family members. They get stressed up during family gatherings, anxious that they can’t secure their job for long, and they often feel that they don’t achieve enough.
This also happened among my student clients. Parents of these clients often set high academic expectation. Children then learn and internalise these high expectations and become anxious facing exams and life challenges. Some get worsen, and develop panic disorder, anxiety, and depression.
Imposter syndrome is not a diagnosed disorder, but a set of thoughts and behaviors that worth to take note of. Learn to acknowledge your strengths and achievement, assess your ability realistically, and give credits to yourself.
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I am a practicing clinical psychologist who conduct assessment and provide psychotherapy to individuals of all age groups. I am also a clinical supervisor to mental health professionals.
I conduct talks and workshops to working adults, students, teachers, specific community and public.
Sharing psychology knowledge and my clinical experiences to raise mental health awareness and to enhance skills to improve people’s mental well-being and qualify of life is what I love doing.
Contact me via 019-2932899, or email me at sihan.yeoh@gmail.com for enquiry.
