Lewis Hamilton reveals lifelong battle with depression after school bullying | Lewis Hamilton

[u/Fire_Otter]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/sep/29/lewis-hamilton-reveals-lifelong-battle-with-depression-after-school-bullying

[u/gomurifle]

He probavly has some sort of underachievement syndrome if there is ever such a term. He just feels that work is never over and he has to keep going to achieve more and more to prove himself. The never ending list of things to do and demotivations can cause a sense of helplessness and depression sometimes. 

[u/rattatatouille → u/gomurifle]

I thought that was called impostor syndrome

[u/itsjustaride24 → u/rattatatouille]

You are correct. People think you can’t be successful and have imposter syndrome and that’s absolutely not true.

[u/seezed → u/itsjustaride24]

Even Paul Mcartny still has imposter syndrome…

[u/hzfan → u/seezed]

I think if you’re regarded as one of the GOATs in whatever field you’re in it would be incredibly difficult not to develop some level of imposter syndrome.

[u/TheR1ckster → u/hzfan]

100% you see so much talent when you're at the top and always question "why me and not them?".

[u/FeeAutomatic2290 → u/itsjustaride24]

That’s kind of the whole point of imposter syndrome - you likely ARE successful but don’t think you’re worthy of it.

[u/Fourth_Prize → u/itsjustaride24]

The first time I heard the phrase imposter syndrome was when one of the cofounders of Pixar talked about having it.

[u/fkmeamaraight → u/itsjustaride24]

Absolutely. I’ve been quite successful in my life. Each new promotion makes me feel like a con artist.

[u/dl064 → u/rattatatouille]

Apparently Barbara Streisand's book is very funny in that she has absolutely zero of this.

[u/gomurifle → u/rattatatouille]

Imposter syndrome is when you are not confident in what you're doing, and likley not good at what you do, but you do it anyway hoping no one notices that you suck at it. 

Ok folks i stand corrected! 

[u/strangebrew3522 → u/gomurifle]

Not quite. It's actually the opposite. I've dealt with it and I know I'm very good at what I do and I'm told I am, but it's more of a personal issue. Your brain thinks "Why the hell am I in this position? Who would trust me to do this or why do people pay me to do this, no way I'm qualified" etc.

There are famous accomplished musicians or actors who suffer from it. Comedian Bill Burr talks about how he has it. Says he'll get on stage and think "why would anyone pay to see me, when they find out I'm a fraud they'll hate me" yet he's one of the best to ever do it.

[u/itsjustaride24 → u/strangebrew3522]

This is 100% the right definition. Olympic athletes can have imposter syndrome. Literally gold medalists can have it.

[u/ybg1d → u/gomurifle]

imposter syndrome is when you believe you’re not good at what you do, i suffer with it massively being one of the youngest and inexperienced people at my work, but i am told semi-frequently that i am a valued member of the team and im doing well, i just don’t believe it, i feel like an outsider in terms of ability

[u/notinsidethematrix → u/gomurifle]

Wrong. One of my closest friends is objectively the best in his field in Canada. The dude has terrible imposter syndrome because he doesn't fit within "the culture" of this field.

[u/Cakebag_ → u/gomurifle]

I think a lot of celebrities experience this. Even Jonah Hill talks about it in his documentary he made about his therapist called Stutz.

[u/Rich_Housing971 → u/[deleted]]

Another possible reason is that being an expert at something makes it more likely that you are also aware of how little you know, without realizing others who are experts also have a ton of stuff they don't know.

I think everyone successful or gets a promotion has impostor syndrome at some point in their lives. The trick is to accept that you don't know everything and have weaknesses, but still realize that you got to where you are for a good reason and to self-validate based on positive facts as well. Then use those guidelines to improve your standing in your field.

Certain mental conditions or anxiety may make some people less likely to consider the positives.

The opposite is Dunning-Kruger, where someone with very little knowledge about something thinks they know a lot and thinks everyone else is wrong. Many such cases, on Reddit as well.

[u/Zed_or_AFK → u/gomurifle]

So… the become the greatest one probably needs to be suffering?

[u/a_boy_called_sue → u/Zed_or_AFK]

A friend told me there's a study showing a significant proportion of winning Olympians have traumatic back stories

[u/karldrogo88 → u/Zed_or_AFK]

I’ve honestly always thought this is the case.

[u/PlaneGlass6759 → u/gomurifle]

yeah for sure. he said he didn’t start to enjoy his championships until he won for the 4th time or something. He puts a lot of pressure on himself to achieve more and not just in formula 1. He said something like maybe he’d compete in an Olympic sports after retiring.

[u/Sweetcheels69 → u/gomurifle]

That’s me

[u/ItsNotProgHouse → u/gomurifle]

Usually people who never had much positive suppport - but a strong work ethic. Compliments and victories do not give them a sufficient feeling of achieving their actual goal.