- Aarushi Chitkara

How learning the language of psychology helped me soften my inner voice

Have you ever looked around a classroom and thought, “everyone else belongs here except me”?

I have. Many times.

As a psychology student, I’ve often sat in lectures surrounded by classmates who seem effortlessly confident and know way more than I do. Meanwhile, I’m quietly questioning whether I deserve to be here at all.

That sinking feeling is called imposter syndrome and it’s a lot more common than you might think. This is my journey of recognising it, understanding it through psychology, and learning to cope.

What Is Imposter Syndrome?

Imposter syndrome is the persistent feeling of being a fraud, even when your accomplishments prove otherwise. 

For students, it can sound like this:

 -  “Everyone else is smarter than me.”

 -  “I don’t deserve this spot.”

But knowing the definition didn’t stop me from feeling it.

My Experience

In my first semester, I remember classmates casually referencing theorists I hadn’t even studied yet.

I just thought, “they all know what they’re doing and I’m the only one who doesn’t.”

There were times I would get anxious in class and couldn’t focus on anything. In fact, every time I went to class, I would anticipate how bad I was going to feel about myself.

How I’m Learning to Cope

- Celebrating Small Wins

I now consciously acknowledge successes like taking a tough exam, or even asking a question in class.

- Talking About It

Opening up helped me realize I wasn’t alone. 

- Shifting Self-Talk

I now challenge my own thoughts :

 - “I’ve worked hard for this.”

 - “No one knows everything, this is a process.”

- Managing Anxiety

Grounding techniques help me pause my thoughts and regain perspective.

A Work in Progress

Do I still struggle with imposter syndrome? Of course. But I’ve learned the point isn’t to get rid of it. The goal is to recognise it, manage it, and keep moving ahead.

If you’re thinking, “that sounds like me”, know this: