Many successful women suffer from ‘ Impostor Syndrome’

Psychologist reveals how females in powerful jobs feel they’re not good enough and fear being exposed as a “fraud”.

Called “Impostor Syndrome”, it is a condition affecting more and more successful women. Sufferers of the condition view their work success as luck rather than ability. Many believe they're terrible frauds not cut out for the job and at any minute they could be found out, the Daily Mail report.

High- flyer Jess Cook, 44, from Cheltenham, is chief executive officer of publicrelations company Silver Ball PR and earns £ 60,000 a year.

She says: “I first realised I suffered from impostor syndrome in my mid- 20s when I was picked from a pool of 1,600 candidates for a graduate position with the advertising giant M& C Saatchi.

“I was terrified I'd be told they'd hired the wrong person. My psyche insisted the achievement wasn't mine - I put it down to my husband's coaching and a friend helping me with my CV.

“Today I run my own thriving company, yet if I win business I'll convince myself I was the only company who pitched or the competition wasn't up to scratch. Whatever I do, I never feel it's good enough and then I relentlessly brood over what I didn't make happen rather than on what I did. My condition causes me to suffer from migraines and jaw pain, from being so tense, and so I sought therapy.

“It has helped me to practise a list of strategies that take me to a positive mental place, and recognise my broken way of thinking.”

This isn’t just a case of low self- esteem.

It’s a distinct pattern of thoughts and behaviour that are alarmingly common, especially among women. It makes sufferers believe they're a terrible fraud.