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Why do I feel like a fraud even when I’m doing well?
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Does this feel familiar?
You were promoted and your first thought was ‘they’ll realise soon’.
You prepare three times as much as anyone else for the same meeting.
Someone praises your work and you immediately explain why it wasn’t that good.
You don’t apply for the role unless you meet every single requirement.
What might be going on
Imposter feelings often grow from early messages about achievement, high standards, being compared to others, or being in spaces where you don’t see many people like you.
The cruel twist is that success doesn’t fix it. Each new achievement can raise the stakes, so the fear of being found out gets louder rather than quieter.
Support helps you notice the patterns, separate feelings from evidence and build a more honest, steady sense of your own ability.
One small thing. Just for today.
Start a ‘proof file’. Each time you get positive feedback or solve something hard, save it. Read it before the next big moment.
Let’s untangle a few assumptions
Support can look different
A little perspective
The term ‘imposter phenomenon’ was first used in 1978 by psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes, in a study of high-achieving women who felt their success was undeserved.
Questions you might be asking
When to get medical help
If self-doubt comes with constant anxiety, panic attacks or low mood that lasts more than two weeks, speak to your GP or self-refer to NHS Talking Therapies.
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