Work addiction
Work addiction is the inability to stop working. It is a condition in which individuals are unable to set healthy boundaries around their job schedules. It is often perpetuated by significant career success and is common is individuals who have perfectionist tendencies. Much like a drug addict, a work addict achieves a “high” from engaging in work and is unable to stop his behavior, despite negative consequences to his personal life or mental health.
Like other addictions, work addiction affects the workaholic’s social life and restricts his or her personal freedom and happiness. In fact, excessive work can be a means to withdraw from relationships, to manipulate relationships by limiting one’s availability, or to regulate relationships so that not too much is expected.
The behaviors of work addicts are self-imposed and based on inaccurate self-perceptions, stemming from underlying emotional problems. Work addicts generally exaggerate their importance and accomplishments, using work to avoid negative emotions.
Symptoms of a work addiction
- Long hours at the office, even when not necessary
- Obsession with work-related success
- Intense fear of failure at work
- Losing sleep to engage in work projects or finish tasks
- Paranoia about work-related performance
- Restricts personal freedom and happiness
- Defensive attitude toward others about behavior
- Use of work as a way to avoid human relationships, or life crises like death, divorce, or financial trouble
Like other forms of addiction, work addicts can have significant health consequences, including significantly higher work-related stress and job burn-out rates, anger, depression, anxiety, and psychosomatic symptoms such as stomachaches and headaches.
As a psychosocial condition, work addiction is usually much easier to “cure” than something like a substance abuse addiction. Lifestyle changes, practicing balance, and avoiding stressors and triggers will give the work addict the best chance for success. Hypnotherapy is effective in working on deep psychological issues.
