Imposter Syndrome and Eating Disorders
If imposter syndrome were a person…
…most of us would be in a very toxic, on-again-off-again relationship with it. And just like any clingy ex, it loves to show up at the worst possible time—like, say, the first day of a new job, or every single time we try to feel confident about our bodies. Fun, right?
Listen to the Episode Now
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In this episode, I’m diving deep into the overlap between imposter syndrome and complicated relationships with food and body image. From the masks we wear to feel “enough,” to the inner critic that just won’t shut up, we’re peeling back the layers of what it means to doubt ourselves, hard, while trying to appear like we’ve got it all together.
You’ll hear some very real, very relatable reflections a gentle call-out on shrinking yourself in more ways than one, and a compassionate nudge toward being just a bit bolder—even if you’re still figuring things out (which, spoiler alert: we all are).
So if you’ve ever wondered, “Who am I to be doing this?” or thought, “Someone else would definitely do this better,” trust me—you’re in the right place.
In this episode, we’re talking about:
How imposter syndrome shows up in both our professional lives and our relationships with food and body.
The version of ourselves who doesn’t feel like a fraud.
The gap between where we are now and the confident, self-assured version of ourselves we want to be.
The masks we wear to hide feelings of inadequacy and how those behaviors might manifest (hello, shrinking ourselves—literally and metaphorically).
My own experiences with imposter syndrome.
Why imposter syndrome lingers even when we do have the skills, experience, or knowledge.
The connection between imposter syndrome and disordered eating or body image struggles.
How shame, silence, and isolation make imposter syndrome worse—and what to do instead.
Why the “I’m not good enough” narrative often leads us to quiet ourselves or overcompensate.
How external expectations and internal self-criticism can both fuel imposter syndrome.
The ways we manipulate our appearance, eating habits, or presence to feel more “in control.”
That persistent inner critic that says we’re inadequate—and how it parallels disordered eating thoughts.
How imposter syndrome can persist no matter how much experience we gain—just in new forms.
The power of turning to safe, supportive relationships to process and push through self-doubt.
Why compassionate curiosity (not just judgmental overanalysis) is key to understanding our insecurities.
How courage and small bold actions are required to bridge the gap between insecurity and self-acceptance.
Why trying to "kill" imposter syndrome isn’t the goal—learning from it is.
How to take brave steps that align with the version of yourself you want to be, without relying on food, exercise, or control as a crutch.
*Quick reminder that next week will be our last episode until September. Stay tuned for the re-release of some oldies but goodies to get you through the summer!
Tweetable Quotes
“By not talking about it, by not owning it, we sort of imply our own shame.” - Rachelle Heinemann
“If we start opening up and at least being open to the fact that other people can help us through some of the imposter syndrome... we at least give ourselves a chance to find some sort of self-acceptance there.” - Rachelle Heinemann
“Ultimately, what we're telling ourselves is ‘I can handle a little bit of human vulnerability’, which is the exact opposite of imposter syndrome.” - Rachelle Heinemann
“Working through imposter syndrome requires a lot of courage and alot of work.” - Rachelle Heinemann
Resources
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Related Episodes
Episode 170. The Perfectionist Paradox
Episode 161. Eating Disorders and Low Self-Esteem
Episode 154. The Secret Sauce for Building Confidence: Part 1
Episode 155. Cracking the Confidence Code: Part 2
Episode 146. Caring Less About What Others Think
Episode 126. Lying, Deception, and Eating Disorders with Tom Wooldridge, PsyD, ABPP, FIPA, CEDS-S
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Hey there! I’m Rachelle, the host of the Understanding Disordered Eating Podcast. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, I work with clients to make sense of life’s messy emotional experiences.
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