Adeena Imran
20th March 2025 · 7 min read
Imposter syndrome manifests as a psychological phenomenon wherein individuals question their accomplishments and harbor a deep-seated fear of being unmasked as an "intellectual fraud."
Despite ample evidence of their abilities, such individuals struggle to internalise a sense of competence and persistently believe they are unworthy of acknowledging their successes. They harbor a covert sense of not meeting the expectations placed upon them by others.
Research says that in Pakistan, about 50% to 70% of medical students suffer from imposter syndrome.
All those who gain admission to medical school possess high intellect and exceptional academic standards, creating a highly competitive environment. Medical students are surrounded by ambitious and skilled peers, leading them to often perceive themselves as less proficient and experienced in comparison.
Due to the fear of being exposed as incompetent, sufferers are often too bashful to initiate conversations or participate in classes or study sessions. This reluctance leads them to develop alternative learning methods, making standard teaching approaches less effective. For example, while group study is a practical method in medical school, these students gain minimal benefits due to their fear of judgment.
Impostor syndrome is not a mental disorder. Instead, it is an experience that transpires in an individual and changes their persona. It is an outcome of certain stimuli or triggers, such as:
Among such students, there is a constant sense of competition with others that makes them look weak and incapable in their estimation. Even though they are performing well academically, it does not change their belief, and this may lead to constant depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.
Conducive to overpowering others, there is a sense of overachieving among these students. For that, they set exceptionally high aims, leading to excessive stress, anxiety, and burnout.
Setting unrealistically high standards to avoid taking action or making a decision is the definition of perfectionism. These students fall under the trap of critical self-evaluations and concerns regarding others' evaluations. This stems from perfectionism, which could be one of the leading causes of such a personality. This could also be an impact of people-pleasing tendencies in a professional way.
Students with imposter syndrome often accredit their victory to luck or chance, discounting their potency. When you rationalise everything to luck, you are automatically unable to appreciate your strivings and pursuits, which initially drove you to that point of excellence.
Due to the adversity of imposter syndrome, there is always a sense of professional insecurity among such students, making them highly motivated and unnecessarily over-prepared to ensure that no one can doubt their competency. The associated students often suffer burnout due to unbounded stress and exaggerated working hours to compensate for their perceived incompetence.
The only valid comparison individuals should consider is with their earlier selves. Comparing ourselves to others diminishes our individuality and confines us to the fear of not measuring up to others.
Validating every milestone with luck will forge your mental attitude into overlooking your competency and proficiency. When we omit the factor of luck, it is easier to acclaim our feats and accomplishments.
To overcome this condition, individuals must acknowledge and value the praise for their accomplishments and triumphs. It is essential to learn not to dismiss or undervalue appreciation.
Desiring excellence and perfectionism in every field and task is often an avoidance tactic, no matter how ordinary. Urging everything to be flawless decelerates the overall work process and is often a waste of time. Alfred Fiddler said, and I quote, “Have the courage to be imperfect!” I think that's all a person needs to learn to maintain consistency in work.
One must permit oneself to acknowledge that it is within the inherent capacity of the human brain not to comprehend everything at all times.
As medical students, we must recognize these symptoms and manage them accordingly. Seeking help should never be a source of hesitation, as caring for your mental well-being is paramount. Cultivating self-control markedly improves one's quality of life. Ultimately, this life belongs to you; achieve victory as you desire!
For a deeper understanding and further support, we recommend checking out the following resources and websites:
/https://impostorsyndrome.com/articles/10-steps-overcome-impostor/
[American Psychological Association]
/https://www.apa.org/monitor/2021/06/cover-impostor-phenomenon/
[HubSpot]
/https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/impostor-syndrome-tips/
I am Adeena Imran, a second-year Medical student at KMDC. With a deep commitment to exploring overlooked and under represented fields, I am enthusiastic about connecting with like-minded individuals for collaborative learning and shared advancement. As they say, birds of a feather flock together, so why not give it a chance and fly along?
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