Work Addiction

A "workaholic" is another name for someone who has a work addiction.  For a work addict, work is the one significant and overriding activity in their life. While the work addict spends almost all of their time in work, typically any success does not result in pleasure or a reduction in the time and energy they spend on work.  The work addict just keeps right on working and avoiding other activities.

If you work hard, spend large amounts of time on work, and feel satisfied from working hard, you are not necessarily a work addict. What does define a work addict is that work becomes an obsession and prevents you from establishing and maintaining healthy relationships and interests outside of work.  Typically a work addict is too preoccupied with work to be involved with friends and family, they severely control and restrict their social life and may even overlook health issues.  The work addict may go on a vacation but will do so very reluctantly and, while on the vacation, they are preoccupied with work and are unable to relax and enjoy anything but work.  

While the cause of a work addiction is related to the each addict's past and adjustment patterns, typically a causal factor is the addict's unfulfilled and unmet needs or the addicts need to manage, control and avoid underlining negative feelings. 

Work addiction is similar in its negative effects to other addictions; however, work addiction, as opposed to all other addictions, is often accepted and even rewarded by society.  Society in general often shows a lack of understanding, or lack of caring, as to how a work addiction affects the addict and those around him/her.

If you think your work may border on an addiction, you may find the following test (adapted from Lawyers Assistance Program of British Columbia) informative.

Work Addiction Self Test

Please rate each statement according to the following scale:  1 = never true; 2 = sometimes true; 3 = often true; 4 = always true. Total up your score, then look at the scale below.

1. I prefer to do things myself rather than ask for help
2. I get very impatient when I have to wait for other people, or am in slow moving queues
3. I seem to be in a hurry and racing against the clock
4. I get irritated when I am interrupted while I am in the middle of something
5. I stay busy and keep many 'irons in the fire'
6. I find myself doing two or three things at once, such as eating and writing a memo
7. I over commit myself by biting off more than I can chew
8. I feel guilty when I am not working on something
9. It is important that I see the concrete results of what I do
10. I am more interested in the final results of my work than in the process
11. Things just never seem to move fast enough or get done fast enough for me
12. I lose my temper when things don't go my way or work out to suit me
13. I ask the same question, without realizing it after I have already been given the answer 14. I spend a lot of time planning and thinking about future events, forgetting the here and now
15. I find myself continuing to work after my co-workers have finished
16. I get angry when people do not meet my standards of perfection
17. I get upset when I am in situations where I can not be in control
18. I tend to put myself under pressure with self imposed deadlines
19. It is hard for me to relax when I am not working
20. I spend more time working than on socializing, hobbies or leisure activities
21. I dive into projects to get a head start before all the phases have been finalized
22. I get upset with myself for making even the smallest mistake
23. I put more thought, time and energy into my work than relationships with other people
24. I forget, ignore, minimize family celebrations such as birthdays or holidays for example
25. I make important decisions before I have all the facts and have thought them through

If you scored:

25 - 49 = You are not overdoing it
50 - 69 = You are mildly overdoing it
70 - 100 = You are highly overdoing it

If you have a work addiction or if your work consumes more of your time and energy than you think is healthy, with help your unhealthy behavior patterns and thoughts can be transformed into new and healthier ones.

As with all addictions, for the work addict the first and often the most difficult step is admitting that a problem exists and that change is necessary.  Then you can start to work on the problem yourself and you may want to search out a self-help program such as Workaholics Anonymous. 

If you have not been successful at modifying your behavior and putting more balance back into your life, counseling and therapy may be necessary.  I have found that the types of treatment that are helpful are very similar to those I use in the treatment of other addictions.  These include traditional psychotherapy, reality therapy, behavior therapy, and cognitive therapy that focuses on identifying unhealthy, irrational and negative beliefs and having you replace them with healthy, positive ones. 

For more information about a work addiction, please click on the linked websites listed below.

"If you really want help dealing with your feelings and emotions, changing your behavior, and improving your life, I will be happy to help you.  I am available almost any time and any place.  You can call me directly and there is no cost or obligation for the initial telephone consultation.  Or you can reach me by email.  I look forward to the possibility of helping you to improve your life."   Dr. Vince Berger