I Feel Like A Failure

A very successful attorney and partner in his firm is sure he is not qualified for his profession. "I feel certain that the day will come when I will lose a big case in court and my whole career will begin to unravel. My colleagues, the judges, and the rest of my clients will all find out that I have been "winging it" much of the time. I never really feel prepared for my cases and instead fly by the seat of my pants most of the time. When people who don't know me ask what I do, I have a hard time looking them straight in the eyes and saying, 'I am an attorney.'"

After being notified that she had been elected the Physician of the Year, the anxiety of this capable doctor rose to the point that she had to leave the room where her colleagues had gathered to congratulate her. Often driven to the point of exhaustion, she worked long hours and allowed herself no leisure time or relationships outside of work. She felt as though her admission to medical school, coveted residency, and successful practice were all due to some series of complicated and difficult to explain mistakes. She was convinced that even her unrelenting work and attention to detail would fail in the end as sooner or later she would make an error that would reveal the fact that she possessed only ordinary skills.

The psychological difficulty shared by these individuals is known as the imposter phenomenon. Anxieties suffered by these individuals stems from their secret belief that they have been over-estimated by those around them. Their perfectionism deters them from ever feeling that they are successful and worthy of recognition.

The imposter phenomena is genderless, striking successful people in any career or endeavor. These individuals fear exposure of a fraud, imagining that they are perpetrating on others. The more success they feel, the greater the anxiety they experience. Their "drive" in an attempt to overcome this fear can create havoc for co-workers, friends, and family.

Various forms of therapy may be helpful in treating this problem. The first step, of course, is for the sufferer to recognize the problem and seek help. A sense of relief often occurs from simply knowing that many successful people are plagued by the imposter phenomena.

The solution to an individual problem, although not simple, is obtainable with professional help.

Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 2004