Positive affirmation and validation from peers and advisors for several years now has been a source of heightened anxiety and depression. This has largely occurred since this positive reinforcement and encouragement has been reconfigured from a source of comfort and guidance to being seen by me as a new level of expectations that people have imposed on me, and that I in turn need to meet and continue to strive past in every aspect of my professional life. Breaking this “pattern of disbelief” in recasting positivity as negativity has been greatly aided by therapy. It has become easier to see phrases like “you can do this” and “you continue to break new ground and set new bars” as beneficial to my mental health rather than debilitating and crippling. While my imposter syndrome is still alive and well, I am now better able to take these encouragements in a positive way rather than as something always needing to be surpassed.
Anecdote #4
