ADHD Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome in ADHD is the persistent feeling that you’re not as capable as others think, despite evidence of your success. It often involves self-doubt, fear of being “found out,” feeling like a “fraud” and difficulty trusting your achievements.

There are many factors which can lead people with ADHD to develop imposter syndrome. Many adults with ADHD develop imposter syndrome due to:

• Inconsistent performance due to ADHD (ie sometimes able to meet deadlines and prouduce good work, other times not able to meet demands).

• Past experiences of external criticism (in school work, home, relationships). These external critciisms become internalised and shape how we see ourselves as adults in the here and now.

• Perfectionism behaviours and very high standards. Your self worth feels directly linked to how you perform - you dont feel that you have value unless you’re making achievements so you overcompensate and work tirelessly to meet deadlines. That looks like feeling only “good enough” when succeeding.

• Struggling to take on positive feedback. This may look like discounting, discrediting or distorting achievements (such as, “well anyone can do that” or “theyre just saying that”). Which means you’re never able to take on information that contradicts the belief you’re an imposter.

• Low self-confidence, self worth and self esteem

• Social comparison with others. Judging our own performance and abilities based on others (often neurotypical peoples) lives, outcomes, performance.

This fear is very common with imposter syndrome. Therapy can help you challenge these thoughts, build self-trust, and recognise your achievements more realistically so you dont feel you will be “found out” any any given moment.

Imposter syndrome can lead to anxiety, burnout, avoiding opportunities, and reduced confidence in your abilities.

The impact of imposter syndrome can be huge. But sadly, the things we do to cope with imposter syndrome are often reinforced and rewarded by employers or education providers. ie you work tirelessly on a deadline, compromising your physiological needs (sleep, eating, drinking water, movement) and your emotional needs, internally, as a result you feel burntout from overcompensating, but externally, people see the hard work put in and say “well done” or “nice work”, (without knowing the costs and impact). As a result, the external validation gives you some short-term relief from feeling like an imposter (but it doesnt last) and in the long-term you learn you the only way to not feel like an imposter is to work tirelessly on projects and overcompensate.

Many adults with ADHD experience imposter syndrome, where success doesn’t “feel real.” This often comes from past self-doubt, inconsistent performance, or internalised beliefs about not being good enough.

These beliefs can change how we see the world. Any proof, evidence or feedback that contradicts the idea of ‘I am a fraud’ or ‘i am an imposter’, is often overlooked, ignored or discounted. Meaning, you may be doing well at work, but your brain cannot register this as it firmly believes you are a fraud.

Therapy can help your brain adapt to new ways of thinking, changing how you see yourself and helping you take on board positive feedback.

ADHD therapy helps challenge negative beliefs, build self-confidence, and develop a more balanced view of your abilities, helping you move from feeling like a fraud or a failure to authentic confidence as you are

Yes, it’s very common. Especially for people who have experienced criticism, pressure to perform, or feeling different growing up.

If you’ve developed strong self-doubt over time, your brain may automatically dismiss praise or attribute success to luck rather than ability.

Common signs of imposter syndrome at work include:

• self-doubt

• overworking to prove yourself

• fear of failure

• difficulty accepting praise

• attributing success to luck.

• perfectionism

• fear of uncertainty or having lack of control

• masking to fit in

• compromising on needs (ie eating, drinking, emotional) to meet deadlines

• Belief of being a fraud or you will be found out

I am physically based in Sydney, Australia, however I work online with clients throughout the UK and internationally.

Many of my clients are based in the UK, including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh and surrounding areas.

I work with adults (18+) with ADHD, including those who are newly diagnosed, awaiting assessment, exploring a possible diagnosis, or looking for support with procrastination, overwhelm, emotional regulation, executive functioning, and ADHD self-management.

All sessions are delivered online. This allows me to provide ADHD therapy and ADHD coaching to adults across the UK and internationally, while offering the flexibility and convenience of attending sessions from home.

Yes. I am a UK accredited therapist so many of my clients are based in the UK, however I also provide online ADHD therapy and ADHD coaching to adults internationally.

Yes. I provide online ADHD therapy for adults throughout the UK, including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Edinburgh, Glasgow and surrounding areas. Online sessions allow you to access specialist ADHD support regardless of where you live.