                Therapist Rant · Vol. 08
            

You Aren’t a Fraud: The Biological Root of Imposter Syndrome

Why “fake it ’til you make it” is terrible advice.

The Short Answer

Imposter Syndrome is often misunderstood as low self-esteem. Clinically, it is a hyper-vigilant state where the brain perceives success or visibility as “unsafe.” By convincing yourself you are a fraud, your nervous system is trying to lower expectations to protect you from the potential pain of future criticism or failure.

You are waiting for the tap on the shoulder.

You have the degree. You have the title. You have the glowing performance review. But in the back of your mind, there is a quiet, steady hum of panic.

You think: “They are going to find out. I have tricked them all. I am not actually smart; I am just good at Googling things and smiling.”

This is not humility. This is a cognitive distortion.

We are taught that Imposter Syndrome is a confidence problem. If you just recite enough affirmations, you will finally believe you belong. But you have tried that, and it hasn’t worked. That is because this isn’t about confidence. It is about safety.

The “Fraud Filter”

Your brain has a mechanism I call the Fraud Filter. It takes objective reality and twists it to fit your internal narrative of “I am not enough.”

Input (Reality) “You got a promotion.”

PROCESSING…

Output (Internal Story) “They were desperate. They had no one else. Now everyone will see I can’t do the job.”

Why Success Feels Dangerous

If you grew up in a home where love was conditional, or where mistakes were punished harshly, “Success” does not feel like a reward. It feels like a target.

The higher you climb, the further you have to fall.

Your Imposter Syndrome is actually trying to protect you. By telling yourself “I’m a fraud,” you are lowering expectations. You are preparing for the fall so it doesn’t hurt as much when it happens. It is a twisted form of self-defense.

How to Turn Off the Filter

1. Look at the Evidence: You are not that good an actor. If you were truly incompetent, you would have been fired years ago. The fact that you are still here is data.

2. Separate Feelings from Facts: “Feeling” like a fraud does not make you one. Anxiety is not intuition; it is just noise.

3. Accept Being a “Learner”: The opposite of “Imposter” isn’t “Expert.” It is “Learner.” You don’t have to know everything. You just have to be capable of figuring it out.

Common Questions

Does it ever go away completely?

Honestly? Not entirely. Every time you level up in life, the feeling will return briefly. But the goal isn’t to never feel it; the goal is to stop letting it drive the car.

Is this just perfectionism?

They are cousins. Perfectionism is the tool you use to try and prove you aren’t a fraud. You think, “If I do this perfectly, they won’t find me out.” Both lead to burnout.

You didn’t trick them. You earned this.

Stop the Self-Sabotage

Maria