Alesha Dixon appears to be the antithesis of shy, having achieved stardom in the girl group Mis-Teeq back in 2001. A natural born entertainer, it is little wonder that she went on to have a solo career followed by a hugely successful TV career. Her poised demeanour on screen masked a health battle that persisted for many years, however.
Alesha spoke candidly about her mental health struggle on ITV’s Loose Women last year.
The star revealed she has grappled with imposter syndrome, which, according to Harvard Business Review, can be defined as a collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist despite evident success.
The BGT judge said to the Loose Women panel: “It’s about not feeling good enough, it’s turning up to a job and feeling like you don’t belong, feeling a bit of a fraud.
“I remember feeling like that – especially in my late teens and all through my 20s.”
Alesha revealed how during the apex of her career thus far – judging on BGT alongside Simon Cowell and David Walliams – she feared experiencing imposter syndrome.
She said: “I could have spent three years on that panel feeling like an imposter, feeling insecure.”
Alesha managed to confront her mental health condition by focusing on the bigger picture.
Acknowledging that the constant self-doubt could be an opportunity cost, the star managed to overcome it.
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Alesha told the panel that her imposter syndrome was a thing of the past.
Imposter syndrome – everything you need to know
The term that was first used by psychologists Suzanna Imes and Pauline Rose Clance in the 1970s.
When the concept was introduced, it was originally thought to apply mostly to high-achieving women.
Since then, it has been recognised as more widely experienced.
According to research published in the International Journal of Behavioural Science, symptoms include:
- Self-doubt
- An inability to realistically assess your competence and skills
- Attributing your success to external factors
- Berating your performance
- Fear that you won’t live up to expectations
- Overachieving
- Sabotaging your own success
- Self-doubt
- Setting very challenging goals and feeling disappointed when you fall short.
While impostor syndrome is not an officially recognised disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), it is not uncommon.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is the handbook widely used by clinicians and psychiatrists in the United States to diagnose psychiatric illnesses.
Research suggests that 70 percent of people will experience at least one episode of this phenomenon in their lives.
General mental health advice
If you are feeling low or not yourself, it is worth speaking to your GP.
“Your GP will assess your circumstances and offer appropriate advice or treatment,” explains the NHS.
They can also refer you to a psychological therapy service or a specialist mental health service for further advice or treatment, notes the health body.
“These services may be provided by your GP surgery, a large local health centre, a specialist mental health clinic or a hospital,” it adds.
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