How to Tell If You Are Addicted to Work

How to Tell If You Are Addicted to Work Addiction Addictive Behaviors Print How to Tell If You Are Addicted to Work By Elizabeth Hartney, BSc., MSc., MA, PhD Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD is a psychologist, professor, and Director of the Centre for Health Leadership and Research at Royal Roads University, Canada. Learn about our editorial policy Elizabeth Hartney, BSc., MSc., MA, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on February 20, 2017 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on April 11, 2019 Hero Images/Getty Images More in Addiction Addictive Behaviors Caffeine Internet Shopping Sex Alcohol Use Drug Use Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery As we are all affected by the shifting economy, many of us are working harder than ever before and feeling overworked as a result. Yet for some, the urge to work more and more goes deeper than simply needing to pay the billsâ€"some are addicted to work. Work Addiction Work addiction, or workaholism, was first used to describe an uncontrollable need to work constantly. A workaholic is someone who suffers from this condition. Although a widely recognized and accepted concept in popular culture, and despite the existence of forty years of literature on the subject, work addiction is not a formally recognized medical condition or mental disorder in that it does not appear in the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders  (DSM), the DSM-V. One of the reasons for this lack of recognition of work addiction  is that workâ€"even excessive workâ€"is typically thought of as a positive trait rather than a problem. Overwork is rewarded, both financially and culturally, and may lead to the worker being seen in a more positive light in different ways. However, work addiction can be a very real problem and can interfere with functioning and relationships, in similar ways to other addictions. The original reason the term workaholic was coined was to demonstrate the parallel between work addiction and alcoholism, and this is probably more accurate than the common perception that someone who works excessively is a responsible and ethical person. Problems Associated With Work Addiction Although excessive work is often well regarded and even rewarded, there are problems associated with work addiction. As with other addictions, work addiction is driven by compulsion, rather than by a healthy sense of fulfillment that is common among people who simply put a lot of effort and dedication into their job, or people who are deeply committed to their work as a vocation. In fact, people who fall prey to work addiction may be quite unhappy and distressed about work, they may be overly concerned about work, they may feel out of control of their desire to work, and they may spend so much time, energy, and effort on work that it impairs non-work relationships and activities outside of work. Signs and Symptoms Despite the difficulties in precisely defining work addiction, several signs of workaholism have been identified. They include: Increased busyness without an increase in productivityObsessively thinking about how you can free up more time for workSpending more time working than intendedExcessive use of work to maintain ones self-worthWorking to reduce feelings of guilt, depression, anxiety, or hopelessnessIgnoring suggestions or requests from others to cut down on workRelationship problems resulting from overwork or preoccupation with workHealth problems resulting from work-related stress and/or overworkUsing work as a way of coping with, escaping, or numbing feelingsDeveloping tolerance to work, so needing to work more to get the same effectsBecoming stressed if prevented from working or experiencing withdrawal if you are not workingRelapsing to overwork when you try and cut down or stop These signs and symptoms of work addiction share many characteristics with other addictions, particularly other behavioral addictions, in which the commitment to the activity or behavior becomes increasingly more important, and overshadows other important areas of life and relationships. What If I Might Be Addicted to Work? If you think you may be addicted to work, try taking a break and see how you feel. If you are unable to switch off from thinking about work, and if you sense you are escaping into work to avoid other responsibilities  or uncomfortable feelings, you may benefit from treatment from a mental health professional. Although you are unlikely to find a work addiction treatment program, many of the approaches used to treat other addictions can be used to help control a range of addictive behaviors.