Imposter syndrome

[Pigglesmiggle]

Anyone ever had imposter syndrome / anxiety about work.
I've been in my current job for 5 years now - no issues with performance on paper, lots of positive feedback from senior management and the people I work with.

I just can't shake the feeling that I'm shit / and that the people I work closest to (not senior management) think I'm shit. I have absolutely no substance to this but I overanalyse every interaction I have / meeting I attend and contribute to. If people don't nod in agreement I assume that they think I'm talking rubbish, if someone points out that I've made a good point I assume they're saying it to be nice and because they can tell I lack confidence, or I'll assume the person leading the meeting is annoyed with me for various reasons, ie lack of eye contact/ not commending what I'm saying or silence after I've spoken. I've asked previous supervisors if there are any issues with my performance in meetings - they all say no but again I assume it's just because they don't want to upset me.

I just have an inate fear that I know less than other people do (I work with alot of highly qualified people, and I'm less specialised) so feel like my input / contributions to projects are less valued even though I do make an effort to contribute.

Just not sure how to deal with this, may well be related to issues I have about wanting to be accepted and please others.

People tend to get promoted until they reach a level of incompetence from whence they then can no longer be promoted and then they stagnate in that position, which is why the higher up you go in an institution the more incompetence you encounter. You won’t be particularly more or less incompetent than anyone else around you, it’s all in your head.

Sounds like you could do with some work coaching, counselling or similar. I think you can be reassured that none of this is uncommon, but if it starts to become debilitating and ironically has an adverse impact on your performance because it's stressing you out then it might be worth exploring. Maybe there's something from your past that's affecting you...the feeling of being judged etc. Not uncommon at all but imagine if you felt at least a but more confident and comfortable with your everyday workplace interactions.

Can I ask how old you are? I used to be so confident at work, interviews, appraisals no sweat!
Since perimenopause has come along the anxiety has sky rocketed and I now over analyse every interaction. It’s exhausting.

Yes, me. I recently got promoted and had people congratulating me. If felt like it was happening to someone else and all a big mistake!

Yes always!