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"The Other Impostor Syndrome"

I had developed what I call Inverse Impostor Syndrome: The belief that I'd been skating by on my intelligence my entire life while doing half the work of everyone else, and the fear that eventually somebody would realize I'd half-assed everything and was actually a lazy good-for-nothing.

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  1. I was diagnosed recently as having ADHD at age 47!! Thanks in part to the COVID-19 Pandemic which exacerbated my problems. I have never commented on an article but, this one was spot on. Now, I know I’m not crazy or alone for the thoughts I have had of myself all these years. I’ve accomplished a lot but always felt like an imposter and had to work really hard or long to get there. This article helped me to feel betabout myself but, I’m still searching for solutions!!😊

  2. Brandy I’m so astonished because I just got out of my shrink’s appointment and as I got my phone on my way back I was drawn into your post and saw you have just described literally everything I just told him!
    I’m also struggling with my PhD dissertation and I simply don’t understand how I got where I am, and I’m sure my supervisor only likes me because she has no idea of the real-deal.
    Anyway, it is so good to see you’re not alone and you’re still human although you feel different from mostly everyone around you.

    Thanks for sharing!!

    Fernanda

  3. Really wish I’d seen something like this back in the 90s when I was a grad student LONG before my ADD diagnosis. Took me many years to convince myself that my Inverse Impostor Syndrome was my brain lying to itself. Just because I have a different work style doesn’t mean I’m any less dedicated or hard-working.

  4. OMW!!! this is sooo me. I once told a former employer (who thought I was terrific at my job) that I was afraid that one day someone would realize I cant actually do my job and yes self-fulfilling prophecy.

    I’m doing my law degree now and it’s exactly the same. procrastinate till the night before an assignment needs to be in and then try to do it in a panic. Don’t even get me started on exams.

    Thank you so so much for sharing this.

  5. Thank you so much for this article. I have been recently diagnosed and this is how I felt every day of my high school and college years right up to today. Thank you for putting words on that terrible feeling and making it seems so much less powerful

  6. Brandy, Thank you for your honest post! If there is one thing I have learned in the last year (since my diagnosis at 38), it is that I am definitely not alone, and neither are you. I felt the EXACT same way every day of my life until my diagnosis. Since then, and like you, I can now forgive myself for having to work differently (usually longer and with more chaos) than others to accomplish the same things.

    1. Your words were just what I needed tonight. I had an especially ADD day at my job and left feeling really down on myself. The many distractions got in my way til I simply switched to Jigsaw Planet and accepted my guilt. Without conversing with anyone I came home and started eating to calm myself. I am a recovering Alcoholic with 28 plus years of sobriety so I was aware my eating was related to restlessness and self condemnation. Thank you for your honesty. It helped me tonight.

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