Do you know what Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, Emma Watson, Lady Gaga and Maisie Williams have in common other than astronomical career success? Well, they’ve all suffered or are currently suffering from impostor syndrome, which means they all go through dark times where they feel like a fraud and attribute their hard-earned success to luck.
While most of us think that being a celebrity brings confidence, happiness and all that one can wish for, this is not quite true for many stars, who struggle with the phenomenon of impostor. Wondering what this syndrome is and what exactly it feels like when you have it? Scroll to find out!
What exactly is impostor syndrome?
According to Harvard Business Review, impostor syndrome, also known as impostor phenomenon, fraud syndrome, impostorism, and impostor experience, can be described as a set of feelings of inadequacy that persist despite success. . People confronted with this psychological phenomenon suffer from chronic self-doubt and generally have a feeling of intellectual fraud that outweighs any external evidence of their competence. People who encounter it feel that they are not as capable as others think and they fear being exposed as fraudsters.
The term was first officially used in the 1970s. In 1978, psychologists Suzanne Imes and Pauline Rose Clance detected impostor syndrome in high-performing professional women. However, in recent days, experts have found that it is common in both men and women.
How do you know if you have impostor syndrome?
Do you doubt your own skills while thinking that you are unqualified and incompetent, even though you have achieved a lot in your career? Chances are you have impostor syndrome.
If you start to believe that you’ve tricked people into thinking you’re more talented than you actually are, you might have the psychological phenomenon that several celebrities have been talking about lately.
Also, if you attribute your success to luck, charm, or the misjudgment of others in addition to your abilities, chances are you are dealing with cheating syndrome.
To get a proper diagnosis, you need to see a psychologist or therapist who can help you with the syndrome.
If you are affected by it, professionally, academically or in your relationships, you should consult an expert.
Celebrities open up about impostorism
Pop star Lady Gaga, on her HBO special, confessed to having impostor syndrome. She said: “I still feel like a loser kid in high school sometimes and I just have to pull myself together and tell myself I’m a superstar every morning so I can go through this day and be what my fans need so that I be.”
‘Game of Thrones’ celebrity Maisie Williams, who has millions of hearts as Arya Stark, also struggles with impostor syndrome despite having a phenomenal career in showbiz. In an interview, she once told Glamour, “I think even though I’ve been an actress for over a decade now, I still have impostor syndrome. Where you’re like, ‘Oh, is- Is that really what I’m supposed to do?'”
Speaking to The Sun recently, Dua Lipa revealed that sometimes impostor syndrome gets the better of her, especially when writing a song. “A lot of the time, I’m so inspired by artists who are self-doubting or gloomy. I’m like, ‘Oh my God, do I have to feel this much pain to be good at what I do? ‘ That’s what I think sometimes, sometimes impostor syndrome can get the better of me. Especially when I’m writing,” she said.
Ahead of headlining Glastonbury Festival this year, global icon Billie Eilish sat down with NME and spoke about the serious impostor syndrome she faces when it comes to singing in mega shows with large crowds. Again on Monday, she spoke to BCC and revealed that she had suffered from impostor syndrome several times in her life, particularly between 2020 and 2021.
On several occasions, Emma Watson has opened up about her struggles with impostor syndrome. A few years ago, she sat down for a candid chat with Vogue UK and said: “It’s something I really struggled with. I went back and asked my parents. When I was younger, I did it. I It was just something I did. Now when I get recognition for my playing, I feel incredibly uncomfortable. I tend to withdraw into myself. I feel like an impostor.
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