Work addiction

Holidays?... I hate them!!! Maybe it’s hard to believe that this kind of reaction really exist, but, unfortunately, in today’s corporate environment, many times the work addiction is encouraged, supported and compensated and the society measures the individuals by what they do, rather than by who/how they are and what they believe in.

In today’s world, due to the continuous craving for money, no other addiction is so willingly adopted, rewarded and praised by society as the work addiction. Although, it is important to differentiate between an extremelly hard worker and someone who demonstrates the characteristics of the work addiction syndrome. The hard worker appears like he/she is a workaholic, yet they always demonstrate the ability to set healthy boundaries when needed.

Workaholism is an addictive pattern like any other addiction. Some people get an adrenaline high from juggling four or five commitments, taking care of others or simply being the first person coming in the morning and the last to leave in the evening.

Maybe they think that this is what the company expects of them. Sadly... this is sometimes true... many times the work addict is encouraged, supported and compensated for these unhealthy patterns. In many cases, the company or organization is unaware of the serious impairment the executive may be experiencing... or more interested by the huge amount of money gained. What looks like someone who is dedicated and acting on behalf of the company, may indeed be someone who is out of control and cannot stop working until experiencing serious consequences.

When the work addict gains the insight into his/her unhealthy patterns, they demonstrate a “loss of control” or an inability to self regulate their schedule and set healthy limits. The persons who developed a work addiction push them selves over the limits, sometimes risking all they have -health, family, friends-. The roots behind this self destructive behaviour lies deep within each of unfulfilled or unmet needs. The feeling of achieving a certain standar or amount of work before becoming accepted as a person, the belief of being of little worth as they are, on their own, the feeling of low self esteem, or of inadequacy are the causes for this continuous effor to do more and better.

The work addict can also use work much like the alcoholic uses liquor to self medicate, manage, control and avoid feelings. Like the common addictions, work addiction passes through three stages:

Early Stage. In this stage of work addiction, the worker tends to be constantly busy and tends to take on more than can realistically be done. He or she will put in lots of extra hours (even if not paid for the overtime) and cannot seem to find time to take days off.

Middle Stage. At this level of workaholism, the addict begins to distant himself from personal relationships, being distracted at home and emotionally staying at work. At this stage, the physical tolls often begin to manifest themselves and the reactions like the impossibility to get to sleep, feeling tired all the time and changes in weight (gain or loss) appear.

Late Stage. Persons in the late stage of work addiction tend to find the more serious physical and emotional symptoms like chronic headaches, elevated blood pressure, stomach ulcers and increased risk of stroke.

The internal experience of the individual caught in work addiction is nearly identical to that of the alcoholic, drug addict or compulsive gambler. Work becomes a "fix" that the person can't do without. Unfortunately, too much work at the expense of rest and balance will inevitably result in breakdown.

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Work addiction

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