Duck syndrome, a disorder that often hits you who are ambitious

Maybe some of you have friends whose lives look successful and that many people crave. Graduated from a well-known university, got a job at a prestigious company, and at the same time can still have fun in his social media uploads.

However, who would have thought that behind all this it turns out that your friend is actually under a lot of burdens? Often called duck syndrome, following the explanation.

What is that duck syndrome?

Source: Stanford Teaching Commons

Duck syndrome is a term that refers to a behavior in which a person is actually in a lot of trouble but still looks okay from the outside.

This term was first used by Stanford University and seems to have become a problem among its students. Mention duck syndrome taken from the analogy of a duck swimming.

When a duck is swimming, people only see its upper body moving quietly and slowly. Few of them know that there are legs which constantly move erratically with difficulty under water.

This syndrome occurs mostly in adolescents who are still in school or college and young adults who are just starting their careers in the world of work.

Why duck syndrome could occur?

The days of high school can be an emergence duck syndrome. Imagine if you were one of the best students in school. Various praise from teachers and friends have become daily food.

This success also makes you feel optimistic and more ambitious to achieve greater achievements when you enter college later. There is also a kind of burden that prompts you to maintain an image as a model student.

Unfortunately, the lecture period is not as easy as you might think. The education system is far different, the subject matter is more complex, and the demands to build broad friendships for the future, all of these things end up making you start feeling overwhelmed.

However, again because of that self-image, you are reluctant to admit it and try your best to stay calm and get things done. No matter how tired you are, the important thing is that you still get what you want.

This is more or less the same as what young adults who are just starting out in their careers feel. With a world that is more demanding to stay productive and make the best contribution to the company, they often put their feelings aside and keep thinking about work. In fact, sometimes this makes them forget their limits.

Nobody wanted to talk about how difficult a task was, no one wanted to admit that someone had just been scolded by a boss for an embarrassing reason, duck syndrome make them act as if they have never failed.

In addition, external factors can also encourage this duck syndrome. Some of them are the tendencies of those closest to you who often boast about achievements and the parenting style of helicopters.

Parents who always supervise all children's actions can indirectly foster feelings of fear of failure in someone.

How to handle it?

Although it is not an official diagnosis in the world of psychology, duck syndrome remains a problem to be overcome. If it is continuously allowed, this behavior can result in unhealthy habits such as encouraging the body to continue to work beyond its capabilities.

In addition, this syndrome can also lead to anxiety disorders and depression. Especially if they experience failure, they may immediately feel as if the world is over.

If you have started to feel the signs as described and begin to feel disturbing your life, the first thing you can do is undergo psychotherapy or talk therapy.

In this therapy session, you can express everything that has been felt and all your worries about many things. Later, a therapist or psychologist will help you find a solution together.

Another option is interpersonal therapy, where you will be assisted by a therapist to build the ability to deal with emotions and things that contact them effectively.

Please also note, the therapy that will be obtained from each person can be different. Remember duck syndrome is not a formal disorder, psychologists will address it through appropriate approaches to accompanying conditions such as anxiety disorders or chronic stress.

Duck syndrome vulnerable to attacking those who are on their way to pursuing success. But before this happens, you can take precautions by taking training for stress management. Also take advantage of mental health services such as counseling that are around you.

The most important thing is to instill in yourself that life is not always perfect. Make failure as an opportunity to form even better abilities. Undoubtedly, the success you achieve can be a satisfaction for you.