I Want to Be Happy
I had the mother of all anxiety attacks today. When this happens, which is about twice each week, I start to wonder if I'm qualified for my job.
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LukeTheDuke · M
Sorry to hear you’re having a tough time.
You may be experiencing imposter syndrome. You must have good qualities if you were hired for the job, so don’t doubt your ability. Think more specifically about what is triggering the attacks. I hope you can overcome this.
You may be experiencing imposter syndrome. You must have good qualities if you were hired for the job, so don’t doubt your ability. Think more specifically about what is triggering the attacks. I hope you can overcome this.
xIdentity · 31-35, M
@LukeTheDuke Can you tell me more about imposter syndrome? I'm interested.
LukeTheDuke · M
Yes, it’s very common. I come from a working class background but ended up in a middle class job. I was always panicked that I’didn’t fit in, didn’t speak in as polished an accent as my colleagues, hadn’t had an expensive education, was missing something they had and would be exposed as not good enough etc. Then I just focused on the work and realised my quality of work was good and I knew my heart was in the right place. And I also noticed with careful observation that my colleagues with such privileged backgrounds really had nothing special about them, and certainly not in terms of having decent hearts.
I may never be able to easily smooch and fit in with those who came from more privileged backgrounds but I refuse to now doubt my ability to be in my job. And I refuse to work myself up into such an emotional state that I have a panic attack (one I had in the past was so bad I could hardly breathe).
Essentially, if you feel you’re becoming panicked remember to BACK YOURSELF. You earned your position on merit and no one has the right to doubt you. If they do, they are the one who is in the dark about the truth. If you make a mistake or have a bad day or stumble over your words in a meeting, don’t beat yourself up; you made a mistake because you’re human not because you’re not good enough. And everyone else makes their own mistakes, have bad days, have flaws and some of them are too arrogant or entitled to even realise their faults.
Ask yourself a question - do you know what and how to do you job. If the answer is yes then BACK YOURSELF and believe in yourself, no matter who else does or doesn’t believe in you.
I really hope you can get through this and I wish you ALL the very best.@xIdentity
I may never be able to easily smooch and fit in with those who came from more privileged backgrounds but I refuse to now doubt my ability to be in my job. And I refuse to work myself up into such an emotional state that I have a panic attack (one I had in the past was so bad I could hardly breathe).
Essentially, if you feel you’re becoming panicked remember to BACK YOURSELF. You earned your position on merit and no one has the right to doubt you. If they do, they are the one who is in the dark about the truth. If you make a mistake or have a bad day or stumble over your words in a meeting, don’t beat yourself up; you made a mistake because you’re human not because you’re not good enough. And everyone else makes their own mistakes, have bad days, have flaws and some of them are too arrogant or entitled to even realise their faults.
Ask yourself a question - do you know what and how to do you job. If the answer is yes then BACK YOURSELF and believe in yourself, no matter who else does or doesn’t believe in you.
I really hope you can get through this and I wish you ALL the very best.@xIdentity