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The Emotional Truth of ADHD – Imposter Syndrome (When success feels like a costume you’ll get caught wearing)
- Kristin Schleicher
- Sep 11
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 8
You achieve.
You deliver.
You impress.
But inside?
Fear.
Doubt.
A quiet voice whispers:
“They’ll find out.”
Success doesn’t feel like safety. It feels like standing trial, waiting for the moment someone unmasks you.
“One mistake and they’ll know I’m a fraud.”
This is the emotional truth of ADHD—what the world can’t see, but many of us silently live with.
Understanding ADHD Imposter Syndrome
ADHD imposter syndrome is a complex emotional experience. It often manifests as a persistent feeling of inadequacy, despite evident success. Those with ADHD may excel in various areas, yet still feel like they are faking it. This internal struggle is not just self-doubt; it is a survival mechanism shaped by past experiences.
Invisible Weight
From the outside, those with ADHD appear ambitious, creative, and even exceptional. Degrees earned. Promotions won. Projects completed against the odds.
But inside? It feels like borrowed confidence. Like your achievements are a costume, and the “real you” is hiding underneath—fragile and uncertain.
That’s the hidden weight of ADHD imposter syndrome: success that never lands because the story in your head says you didn’t earn it.
ADHD Imposter Syndrome Isn’t Doubt — It’s Survival
Imposter syndrome in ADHD isn’t merely self-doubt. It’s a survival strategy.
Working memory gaps make past successes vanish, leaving only the pressure of what’s next.
Rejection sensitivity magnifies every critique, making you question your belonging.
Perfectionism becomes armor, keeping you “safe” by demanding flawlessness.
It’s not weakness. It’s the nervous system trying to stay one step ahead of rejection.
Where It Begins
Think back.
The red pen circling mistakes.
The praise that came only when you got it exactly right.
The teachers who said, “Why can’t you just focus?”
Each small correction, each comparison, each micro-rejection built a belief:
“I’m not enough yet.”
So you became exceptional.
But never felt it.
You over-prepared, over-delivered, over-gave.
And even then—you questioned your right to belong.
The Heavy Price of ADHD Imposter Syndrome
This survival strategy has consequences:
Emotionally: anxiety, shame, never feeling good enough.
Mentally: procrastination, perfectionism, burnout.
Physically: sleepless nights, tense bodies, chronic exhaustion.
Imposter syndrome doesn’t just take your confidence. It steals your joy.
Laying Down the Armor: How Healing Begins
Here’s the truth: ADHD imposter syndrome is not proof you’re failing.
It’s proof you’ve survived.
Your mind built armor because, once upon a time, it needed protection.
But armor weighs heavy.
Healing begins when you:
Let compliments land without deflection.
Try before you feel “ready.”
Root your worth in who you are, not what you produce.
Therapeutic tools like hypnotherapy, EMDR, Brainspotting, and Havening help the nervous system release old loops. They create space for safety without perfection.
And the reminder worth keeping close:
“You already are what you think you need to become.”
Helping Our Kids Grow Without the Armor
(Preventing ADHD Imposter Syndrome Early)
Imposter syndrome doesn’t have to be their story. Parents can rewire the message early.
Practical Strategies for Home & School:
Praise effort, not outcomes – Celebrate persistence and creativity.
Model imperfection – Let kids watch you make mistakes and laugh.
Give safe practice spaces – Show them failure is part of learning.
Affirm identity over performance – “You are loved for who you are, not what you do.”
Name their strengths – Creativity, humor, vision, curiosity.
Final Words
If you’ve ever felt like your success was a costume you might be caught wearing, know this: You’re not alone.
You are not your mistakes.
You are not your fear of exposure.
You are not the voice that whispers “not enough.”
You are your spark.
Your vision.
Your way of seeing the world differently.
That’s the truth worth holding.
👉 And next? Behind the mask, behind the endless proving, lives something heavier: SHAME. Not just the fear of being exposed—but the shame of believing you’re already broken.
Read about The Emotional Truth of ADHD – Shame.
With love and care,
Kristin
Ready to work on this in a deep, lasting way?
Call me for a Free Consultation and learn more about how I use hypnosis, brain spotting, EMDR, and other tools to help you break free from the emotional weight of Imposter Syndrome and other emotional layers of ADHD.
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