STRESS AT WORK

IMPOSTER SYNDROME MORAL INJURY

IMPOSTER SYNDROME

Impostor syndrome, is a psychological experience in which a person suffers from feelings of intellectual and/or professional fraudulence. One source defines it as "the subjective experience of perceived self-doubt in one's abilities and accomplishments compared with others, despite evidence to suggest the contrary". Imposter syndrome is a commonly reported and experienced phenomenon that affects high-functioning, high-achieving individuals, particularly in medicine and healthcare. Although it isn’t classified as a psychiatric condition, Imposter Syndrome is associated with increased risks of anxiety, depression, OCD and suicidal ideation.

Symptoms include:

• Overworking to compensate a perceived inadequacy

• Downplay skills, abilities, or knowledge

• Constantly striving for perfection, and never ‘achieving’ it

• A perpetual need for external validation of performance

  • Ashamed/embarrassed by an event that’s happened in the workplace

  • Feeling more fatigued

  • Constantly procrastinating

  • Feeling fearful or anxious during the day

  • Unable to switch off from work, unwind or relax

  • Negative comparison to peers

  • Lack of self-confidence

  • Difficulty handling pressure

  • Perceive situations in extremes - there is no middle ground

  • Never saying ‘no’ focusing more on doing what others want

MORAL INJURY

A study revealed that Moral Injury – which refers to the lasting impact that is caused by performing, witnessing or failing to prevent an action that violates your own moral beliefs – and the stress it causes, is giving rise to a more intense type of burnout in people across many sectors, particularly healthcare workers, journalists and veterans. Although It is not a distinct mental health condition the concept of Moral Injury has some overlap with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and can have some of the same effects. Furthermore, Moral Injury can contribute to other Mental health disorders like depression.

Symptoms include:

  •  Having intrusive thoughts about work or worries

  •  Thinking of worst-case scenarios

  •   Feeling disinterested & disengaged in work/ day-to-life

  •   Emotional, mental and physical exhaustion.