Imposter Syndrome Is a Trauma Response — Here’s What No One Tells You

I had no idea that Imposter Syndrome was rooted in a trauma response.

I just thought I needed more confidence, a better mindset, or another qualification.

I was doing all the things — personal development, vision boards, affirmations, yet, the fear of being “found out” would creep in every time I upleveled.

And here’s the thing…

That dread you may feel before you present your work, raise your prices, or step into a new role

That anxiety in your chest before you post, speak, or lead
That isn’t just a mindset issue, 
It’s your nervous system in survival mode.

Imposter syndrome isn’t a personal flaw — it’s a protective response stored deep in your body.

Seriously I know how you feel, I remember it well.

It doesn’t whisper. It roars.

It tells you to overwork, over-deliver, and over-prove — just in case someone sees through you.
Just in case someone realises you're not as good as they think.
Just in case that old, buried belief — “I’m not good enough” — turns out to be true.

It’s like a dormant dragon in your unconscious mind, breathing fire when you dare to expand.

Look, you can be wildly successful —
Running your own business, leading a team, speaking on stages —
and still feel like a fraud.

Why?
Because imposter syndrome isn’t logical.
It’s biological.

The issue is this:

Most of us dismiss and minimise our traumas because we may feel like we had a "good childhood", but here is the thing: Trauma isn't just the bad things that happened, but the good things that didn't happen.

So, if we never received praise, didn't have our feelings validated, we were harshly judged, belittled and humiliated- this also counts as trauma, which disregulates your nervous system, and this, my love, has been going on for years.

The Nervous System & Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome is a somatic pattern — held in your body, not just your mind.

If your early experiences taught you that love was conditional, safety was earned, or being seen was dangerous…

Your nervous system now links success with threat.

Every time you grow — a new audience, a higher income, a bigger opportunity — maybe you notice that your anxiety levels increase, you self-sabotage, and you just don't 'feel' right in your body.  The thing is often our internal signals are missed in the business of life and so...

You procrastinate. You self-sabotage. You shrink.

Not because you're lazy or unmotivated, but because your system is trying to protect you from perceived danger.

This is why traditional confidence coaching or mindset work often doesn’t stick.

Because the fear isn’t just in your thoughts —
It’s in your wiring.

How to Heal Imposter Syndrome at the Root

Here’s what works — and what I teach in my trauma-informed coaching for high-achieving women:

• Somatic tools like breathwork, grounding, and vagus nerve exercises can help regulate your nervous system.

• Guided visualisations to help your body feel safe being seen.

• Subconscious rewiring with hypnotherapy, parts work, and emotional processing techniques.

• Daily nervous system regulation to anchor safety before you step into visibility or leadership, this will heal so many aspects of your life that you didn't even realise, needed healing.

• Celebrating micro-wins to show your body it’s safe to grow and succeed without fear.  Rewire your inner confidence

Healing imposter syndrome is about creating a sense of safety, so you can show up fully, unapologetically, and without burnout.

Ready to Feel Safe in Your Success?

If you’re tired of overworking to feel “enough”...
If you’re done hiding your brilliance behind perfectionism...
If you want to feel confident, grounded, and visible without fear of running the show —

You’re in the right place.

I’ve helped hundreds of high-achieving professionals, entrepreneurs, and ambitious people to finally release imposter syndrome — not by pushing harder, but by healing deeper.

Because confidence isn’t something you fake.
It’s something you feel —
When your body finally knows you’re safe to be seen.

I have a free masterclass on healing Imposter Syndrome - let me know if you would like me to send you the recording

Or book a free call to explore private trauma-informed Coaching, Neuro-Somatic Integration therapy, or my She Thrives programme (women only)— designed to help you regulate your nervous system, rewire limiting beliefs, and step into embodied success.