Work is a fundamental part of our lives and can provide us with meaning in life, achievement and financial security. However, when work becomes an obsession that negatively affects health and personal relationships, we are already talking about work addiction also known as workaholism, something that no one is safe from with the pace of life that we all lead today.
As our lives become increasingly active and interconnected, the line between work and personal life has become thinner than ever. Work addiction is a real and worrying phenomenon that affects many people around the world. We explain what exactly it consists of, what symptoms you should be aware of and how to deal with it to once again enjoy a full life in all areas of life.
What is work addiction
Work addiction is a pattern of behavior characterized by an obsessive and excessive dedication to work, which ends up becoming an absolute priority in a person’s life , often at the expense of other important aspects such as health, personal relationships or free time. Those who experience this addiction feel a constant compulsion to be busy regardless of the time or day of the week, and have difficulty disconnecting from their work responsibilities. Work addiction can be fueled by a variety of factors, such as:
Although working hard and striving for success are legitimate and healthy goals, workaholism takes these concepts to the extreme , leaving little room for other important areas of life. Ultimately, work addiction can have a negative impact on a person’s overall well-being and requires a conscious approach to finding a healthy balance between work and other aspects of life.
Symptoms of work addiction
After reading the above, perhaps you are considering the possibility of suffering from this disorder. To find out, we are going to leave you the most characteristic symptoms, although we also want to warn you that to clear up doubts, it is best to go to a mental health professional such as psychologists to put your mind at ease, don’t you think?
How to overcome work addiction
One of the biggest drawbacks when it comes to dealing with work addiction is the lack of awareness of this problem. Despite recognizing that we can identify with the various symptoms previously mentioned, we may have difficulty recognizing that we have a problem and therefore aggravate it with inaction.
Even so, various strategies can always be implemented to overcome this type of addiction. We detail them below:
Remember that each person is different and these strategies will be more valid than others, as well as the way to implement them will be different depending on the characteristics of each person. But yes, don’t forget that if you need help, it is best to go to a psychologist.