Workaholism

Workaholism

Workaholism can be defined as the irresistible urge to pursue work at an excessive extent with extended hours working. Work holism is often referred to as the addiction to work. In psychology, addiction is defined as a goal-motivated, chosen way of life. Habits are idealized to help cope with the challenges brought about by experience. People addicted to work, spend long hours working as a way of dealing with emotional distress and esteem issues. At an instance, it is difficult to distinguish between a workaholic and a hardworking person. Due to such similarities to hard work we question, what is workaholism, and what are its effects? The concept of workaholism can be deciphered through discussing its various definitions, the difference from other work-related terms, similarities to other addictions, causes, results, and remedy. Symptoms of workaholism may include the following: a more profound feeling of indulging in activities related to one’s professional job; trouble in abstaining from doing work-related tasks and difficulties in managing time spent working. Agitation and anxiety while attempting to limit work and the reducing of the condition after resuming with work, continuous neglecting of other leisure activities that were once interesting, increased time spent at work in search of self-satisfaction. A workaholic might exhibit one if not all, of the symptoms.

Workaholism can also be defined as the anxious neediness always to be busy. The neediness is considered a family illness inherited from parents. Workaholics gain adrenaline increase from work-related sprees resulting in exhaustion, anxiety, irritability and depression. Another binge of working is then developed to assist in coping with the acquired problems. Workaholics are perfectionists who expect the best results from peers and their children. Such high demands make the children indulge in excessive work to perfect the standards set by their parents. Addiction to work is an example of a habit that is highly valued by society. At no instance should workaholism be considered to be the equivalent of working hard. While working hard offers better outcomes to an individual, excessive working brings about downfalls that tamper with the progress of an individual. Although working for long hours might be a symptom of work holism, as long as a person working long hours can control herself, it is not considered as work holism. Workaholics can hardly avoid temptations to continue with work.

Addictions such as alcoholism, eating disorders, emotional meltdowns and sex addictions are often described as obsessions of the brain intertwined with body affliction. Take away the substances of addiction and bodies of the addicts begin to recover in most scenarios, but the mind obsessions persist. The same case applies to workaholism. Similar to other addictions, workaholism is considered a way of relaxation by workaholics. Workaholics at most times claim that working helps them calm their minds and get rid of their day to day life baggage. The substantial difference between workaholics and alcoholics arrives due to the lack of substance in making a person obsessed with work. The effects of other addictions to one’s health also differ from those of a workaholic.

Workaholism is caused by various aspects experienced in our lives today. Understanding the causes of work holism requires one to understand the four aspects that may lead to overworking. The first aspect is motivation: a person might become addicted to work even though they do not enjoy it due to internal pressures that compel them to work. The second aspect arises due to cognitive constraints, whereby a person exhibits continuous thought on work-related matters. The third element is due to emotional interference: a person would instead engage in work to avoid negative emotions such as anxiety. The last aspect is behavioural in which a person tends to work more than is required to please his seniors. One cause of workaholism is the significant support of the society we have toward workaholism. The business and corporate worlds tend to value people who are excessively devoted to working and acquiring a substantial amount of wealth.

People with high affinity towards perfectionism are at a higher risk of becoming workaholics. Their nature makes them impose extreme demands on themselves to attain the highest standards, and their urge to compete. A high level of criticism intensifies their vulnerability to spare more time for working at the expense of their free time. Excessive commitment to finishing tasks may be attributed to anxiety and disappointments in other areas of life, such as relationships. An individual may spend most of his time working as a way of avoiding or running from painful emotions. It is quite similar to a scenario whereby one indulges in alcohol consumption to forget about his troublesome experiences. Workaholism may also be brought about by low self-esteem. In attempting to acquire recognition by some of their peers, individuals may wallow in work to achieve similar status quo with their peers. A stressful childhood may also increase the chances of an individual becoming obsessed with work.

Psychology research ascertains that most workaholics were prematurely coerced into performing adult duties due to circumstances brought about by fate, such as illness or death of the guardian or a divorce. Others were brought up in families that had a result-oriented value structure where love was conditionally granted to the sibling who made the family proud by exceeding expectations. The continuous pursuit for such affection thus turns them into workaholics always looking for approval. Criticism pains them to the bones, and they, therefore, are still in search of perfection. Workaholics of this calibre are often hard to treat.

Excessive indulgence in professional work can lead to many devastating consequences. Just like any other form of addiction, workaholism tends to fracture one’s relationship with his family and friends. A workaholic rarely spares time for his family or friends as he/she considers work as of superior importance to their relationships. Children of workaholics, in most cases, end up feeling neglected and not loved making them despise their parents to a high degree. Despite such parent deciding to interact with their kids, they are prone to insist on perfectionism from their children. Such tendencies infuriate their children, making them avoid their parents at all cost. Workaholics also stain their relationships with their spouses since they are prone to ignoring their emotional and physical desires. Health troubles are also consequences associated with work holism. Majority of workaholics are people living in a state of continuous strains and pressure. Research claims that an individual who works over 11 hours in a day is 67% more prone to experience heart attacks. When a human being excessively performs work-related tasks, and under continuous pressure, the level of cortisol significantly increases. Cortisol increase in return causes insomnia as well as memory problems and lack of concentration. Consequently, depriving ourselves time to rest bars us from achieving positive reinforcement, thus causing biochemical imbalances in the brain. Depression, anxiety and mood swings can later be exhibited.

Workaholics are easily addicted by their urge to become better or become more reliable. Addiction to work may also cause emotional harm to an individual. When an individual is consumed by work as a way of alleviating stress, work soon stops offering the satisfaction needed, while tiredness and lack of hope increasingly become more common. The extent to which a perfectionist considered as a success previously becomes standard to a workaholic. The increase in pressure and anxiety to realize further achievements makes it challenging to rest.

In contrast, the chronic lack of satisfaction with the outcomes makes the person feel trapped, causing emotional harm. Occupational burnout is also experienced due to excessive working. Burnout is identified through three essential dimensions: exhaustion, cynicism and depersonalization, and ineffectiveness.

Owing to its numerous adverse effects, workaholism is considered as a condition that requires attention and as one behavior that people need to get rid of it. Persons experiencing symptoms associated with occupational burnout and work addiction are advised to seek professional help. Similar to other habits, psychotherapy is known to be the best routine of treating a workaholic. Creating a fixed working schedule is the first step in dealing with workaholism. The working schedule allows an individual to restrict themselves from surpassing the set time. Without the program, workaholics would have to keep increasing the time spent until they achieve their desired results. Another method of coping with work addiction is through learning to give oneself time for rest. Establishing break times within a work period would do a world of difference. Changing of mindset is also essential in treating of work addiction. An individual needs to understand that excessive working does not signify hard work or progress in work. Meditation is also another remedy for workaholism. A workaholic might decide to take time in meditation and reflect on the adverse effects their continuous work habits have on them. Meditation should help them mend the fractured relationship between them and their families.

Attending counselling and self-help groups may help workaholics who are deeply rooted in the behavior. Since addiction to work may cause mental health issues like depression and anxiety, workaholics are advised to have mental health assessments. An assessment may help to choose which treatment plan an individual requires. The treatment plan should address the state and any problem underneath. Face to face therapy with medications may assist in controlling impulses, stress and anxiety. Treatment of work addiction is essential because similar to most habits; the condition worsens with time. Restoring a healthy work balance in lives of workaholics helps them in avoiding relapsing. It is essential for the addict recovering to create a good relationship with work. The recovering persons should create a balance since it is impossible to stop working completely.

In spite of the praises and accolades achieved by workaholics, the outcome of such an addiction is devastating. For instance, strained relationships and health issues that may lead to death at the expense of approval from peers and employees. Therefore, people must develop a proper work relationship to avoid the pitfalls that come with excessive working. Excessive working does not always imply a successful job.