When work becomes an addiction
Work can be considered an obligation and many people can see it as monotonous and even tedious, however, the truth is that work requires responsibility and effort.
It also holds an important place in our life, which develops part of our social life. The co-existence between co-workers can be an enjoyable experience, a team working in conjunction with a common purpose, or there may be friction and thus it becomes an unwelcome and unenjoyable experience.
If we reflect and take these factors into account, perhaps none of us can believe that something like "workaholism" exists. However, the term makes more sense when it comes to a situation that often occurs in capitalist societies, where you have to do more to get more.
The cause of addiction
When developing an addiction there is usually a prior problem which makes it difficult and challenging to overcome. It can also take the form of a problem that affects our daily lives causing distress and discomfort, and therefore people look for ways to escape from it.
It is quite common that the affected person is not aware of his/her problem, however, this shows that the person finds it difficult to face and therefore they feel overwhelmed. This often makes them avoid dealing with the problem.
However, this gives them another problem: Not only do they have to address the main problem that they face, but also the addiction, in this case work addiction: An addiction that will probably invade and affect the emotional and relational life of the sufferer.
Addicts that are productive
Workaholism is not frowned upon by the rest of society, since these are people are generally described as dedicated, responsible and effective. In fact, some people addicted to work are recognised and even admired by their co-workers.
However, this can complicate the associate with an addiction and therefore make it harder to beat. Being a workaholic is characterised as a compulsion to repeat an activity.
How does it affect you?
The social circle of the affected person comes down to those who know only about his/her work and family. With no relaxation space, stress is always present and can manifest in various diseases and conditions.
There is often neglect of the family life as a result of the time spent at work, often resulting in arguements, crisis and even separation.
Holidays, conversations, meals and everything begins to revolve around the workplace. Sometimes this can appear natural, but it is not healthy when we only speak and think about our jobs.
Solutions
To treat an addiction you cannot just stop doing what you are addicted to, but instead you must seek the prior problem which made us turn to work as an escape and primarily address that problem, thinking about how we can fix it and not ignore it.
In addition, a workaholic has the need to be always "busy" and under pressure, so he or she cannot enjoy “doing nothing", so it is advisable to seek recreational activities such as playing sports, playing with the children or painting: Any form of entertainment to help them relax and release their mind from work.
Avoid working late at night: Rest is important for our body to function optimally.
If you still cannot help thinking about your job all the time and find it impossible to relax, it may be recommendable to go to see a specialist. In this case, a psychologist is best suited to help you let go and begin to take a break.