Dear Saiyan (aka Addy, LoneWolf):

“I wonder how long therapy would take?“- it will take a few months for you to experience significant improvement if you have a quality therapist whom you learn to trust and to whom you tell the truth.

* There is a saying: The Truth Shall Set You Free. (It is in the bible, John 8:32: “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free“).

The title of your thread includes the word imposter, online definition of the word (impostor): “a person who pretends to be someone else in order to deceive others..”.

Impostor syndrome: “a psychological occurrence in which an individual doubts their skills, talents, or accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a fraud.. they may think that they are deceiving others because they feel as if they are not as intelligent as they outwardly portray themselves to be” (Wikipedia)

There is another term that may apply to you, it’s called “illusory superiority“: “a condition of cognitive bias wherein a person overestimates their own qualities and abilities, in relation to the same qualities and abilities of other people” (Wikipedia). The term is synonymous perhaps with arrogance (an attitude of superiority).

In your 2nd and 3rd posts on this thread, you wrote and asked: “I would like to start journaling – what do you think is the good way put down your thoughts on paper?.. So in your opinion journaling and psychotherapy helps? and Yes I wouldn’t mind starting journaling“-

-Here is what I suggest: have a notebook where you write, or a word doc where you type (whatever you feel comfortable with) and name it Not More, Not Less Journal (NMNLJ). In this journal, aim at the following attitude: you no longer have to be superior to others in terms of intelligence. You don’t have to pretend anymore that you are more than you are- and therefore, you don’t have to fear being exposed as less. You are now free to be you, just you: not superior and not inferior. In your writings, in this journal, you no longer try balance feelings of inferiority with feelings of superiority.

* In my mind’s ear, I almost hear you arguing against what I just suggested and placing my suggestion in an Other People’s Inferior Suggestions mental file (but responding almost kindly nonetheless, with an emoji or two).

anita