There are many problems that all health professionals face. From the constant risk of suffering infections from multiple diseases to the exhausting work days. In fact, the challenges start from the training part because it is one of the most requested careers. Although in countries like Mexico the places are limited and only some manage to enter the university. But in addition, Impostor Syndrome must be considered as another inconvenience to which doctors are exposed.
In that sense, despite the invaluable work that doctors do, it is also one of the most demanding careers. Everything is due to the activities that must be carried out and which are of great relevance. Having the health of other people in your hands implies a strong responsibility.
Similarly, those who work in the health field must be prepared to face terrible aspects such as the death of a patient. It is something that nobody wants but that can happen at any time. That is why resilience is required to get up immediately and be able to continue with your activities because there are more people in the waiting room who need you.
But as we already mentioned, doctors have a high risk of suffering from Impostor Syndrome and it is more frequent than you imagine. A study published in the journal Family Medicine states that nine out of 10 aspiring doctors develop it since they are students. Some of them get over it after a short time, but in others it extends to their professional stage.
And what is Impostor Syndrome?
Before proceeding, it is necessary to know the main signs of this problem. In a simple way it is used to describe people who fail to attribute their own successes and achievements. They are those who have low self-esteem and assume that everything positive that happens in their lives is due to external factors, coincidences or luck.
Due to the above, they are afraid of success and when it arrives they assume that it will be temporary because at any moment something will happen that will interrupt it. Although they are emotionally trained people, they do not feel ready to succeed.
Now, the study led by researcher Susan Rosenthal analyzed 257 first-year medical students at Thomas Jefferson University. What was obtained is that 87 percent showed clear signs of suffering from Impostor Syndrome.
Why is it generated?
While as a result of dissatisfaction, symptoms of anxiety, depression and exhaustion. That severely impacts the mental health of aspiring doctors.
While the work affirms that among the possible causes of the problem are the high demands to which young people are subjected. Sometimes they are seen as responsible for the lives of patients and this causes them to neglect their own integrity. While the high competition that persists within the career also causes them to be unaware of their own achievements and think that they are caused by external factors and not by themselves.