Dr. Kain shares that people with this fear will often ask themselves, “What if someone asks me something about a topic I don’t know about and I have nothing to say?”"Because we falsely believe we should know everything about everything, we fear someone putting us on the spot," he warns. "This fear of humiliation is a very common one throughout people’s lives."Related: Is the ‘Spotlight Effect’ Hurting You at Work? Here’s What It Is and 6 Therapist-Backed Ways To Shake It Off
2. Revealing a working-class background
Dr. Kain notes that people with developmental differences are often prone to this unspoken fear of imposter syndrome."Because assisted technology is readily available and extremely useful, many of my clients have relied on audiobooks to get them through their education," he says. "They often go on to be highly successful despite struggling to read quickly or fluently. I have clients who have avoided jobs and careers because of the fear of being perceived as 'stupid' because they struggle reading aloud."Dr. Kain adds that people who aren't fluent in English or don't consider it their primary language are also at a higher risk of this one."If they have a strong need to blend in and not draw attention to themselves, if they have worked hard to eliminate an accent, the fear of 'giving themselves away' by mispronouncing a word can be extremely paralyzing," he says.Related: The No. 1 Sign of Workplace Burnout, According to Career Experts
4. Difficult questions
The idea of answering questions you do know the answer to—such as about your education—may also trigger anxiety if you have imposter syndrome."This is common in people who come from working-class families or who didn’t go to upper-tier schools," Dr. Kain says. "The idea that our family of origin’s social status defines us as adults or that the school we went to somehow speaks to our intelligence later in life fuels this fear of humiliation and feelings of being an imposter."Related: Could You Be a Victim of ‘Self-Gaslighting’? 5 Signs of the Subtle Form of Self-Sabotage and How To Stop, According to Experts
6. Having something to prove
Having "smarts" is generally considered a positive trait. However, imposter syndrome has a funny way of turning it into a negative. Dr. Kain says people with this unspoken fear are typically scared that they'll say or do something that tips their friends off that they aren't that "cool." “While they may, at times, feel like they belong, it is offset by feeling like they’re an imposter," he explains.He adds that he primarily sees this fear in teens. However, it can strike people of any age and trigger emotional and psychological distress.Related: This Shockingly Simply Habit Could Make a Huge Difference in Your Self-Esteem, According to a Life Coach
8. Exposing a lack of experience
Lights, camera...uh, what? People with imposter syndrome can experience stage fright long before the curtains go up."This version of the imposter syndrome capitalizes on catastrophic thinking and the notion that everyone in an audience would know and care if we messed up," Dr. Kain says.He likes to remind clients that the audience is almost always rooting for them, not against them, and will understand if they lose their place."Most people in an audience are happy they are in their chair and not on stage presenting or performing," he adds.Related: What Is ‘Mirroring’ and How Does It Impact Your Relationships? Psychologists Weigh In
4 Tips for Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
1. Stop comparing
This tip is handy if you're afraid to say or do something that gets you labeled as inexperienced or if you don't know the answer to a question."Imposter syndrome lives in the fear of being 'found out, 'slipping up' and making mistakes," Dr. Kain shares. "It is helpful to remember that making a mistake does not make you an imposter. It simply makes you a human being."
3. Talk to someone
4. Work on actual gaps
No one is perfect. If the voice in your head has a point, there's no shame in working on a gap in knowledge or experience. In fact, it's a sign of maturity and can lead to growth."If you find that you truly are lacking in some area, figure out a way to make up the missing skills, information or experiences," Dr. Kain says. "Do what you can to be more comfortable in your own skin."Sign up for a course, volunteer your time, find a mentor—you and those around you will benefit from your humility and grit.
Related: Psychologists Are Begging Women To Remove These 15 Phrases from Their Vocabulary
Source:
Dr. Craig Kain, Ph.D., a licensed psychologistHence then, the article about if you have imposter syndrome you likely live with these 9 unspoken fears a psychologist says was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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