Monday, September 6, 2010

Happy Labor Day Workaholics

For workaholic people who get stressed out when they aren't working, today can be a difficult day.
An ergomaniac or workaholic is a person who is addicted to work.

The term does not always imply that the person actually enjoys his work; it can imply that he simply feels compelled to do it. There is no generally accepted medical definition of such a condition, although some forms of stress, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder can be work-related.

...Although the term workaholic usually has a negative connotation, it is sometimes used by people wishing to express their devotion to one's career in positive terms.

...Experts say the incessant work-related activity masks anxiety, low self-esteem, and intimacy problems. And as with addictions to alcohol, drugs or gambling, workaholics' denial and destructive behavior will persist despite feedback from loved ones or danger signs such as deteriorating relationships. Poor health is another warning sign. Because there's less of a social stigma attached to workaholism than to other addictions, health symptoms can easily go undiagnosed or unrecognized, say researchers

... Workaholism in Japan is considered a serious social problem leading to early death, often on the job, a phenomenon dubbed karōshi. Overwork was popularly blamed for the fatal stroke of Prime Minister of Japan Keizō Obuchi, in the year 2000.[8]

In the U.S., and Canada workaholism remains what it's always been: the so-called "respectable addiction" that's dangerous as any other. "Yes, workaholism is an addiction, an obsessive-compulsive disorder, and it's not the same as working hard" says Bryan Robinson, PhD, one of the leading researchers on this disorder. Workaholic's obsession with work is all-occupying, which prevents workaholics from maintaining healthy relationships, outside interests, or even take measures to protect their health.
...
Workaholics feel the urge of being busy all the time, to the point that they often perform tasks that aren't required or necessary for project completion. As a result, they tend to be inefficient workers, since they focus on being busy, instead of focusing on being productive. In addition, workaholics tend to be less effective than other workers because it's difficult for them to be team players, they have trouble delegating or entrusting co-workers, or they take on so much that they aren't as organized as others. Furthermore, workaholics often suffer sleep deprivation which results in impaired brain and cognitive function.
...
Like with other psychological addictions, workaholics are unable to see that they have a problem. Confronting the workaholic will generally meet with denial. Co-workers, family members and friends may need to engage in some type of an intervention to communicate the effects of the workaholic’s behavior on them. Indeed, mental treatment to cure a workaholic can successfully reduce the hours spent on the job, while increasing the person's productivity. Studies show that fully recovered former workaholics are able to accomplish in 50 hours what they previously couldn't do in 80.

- link

The main task in treating workaholics is helping them reconnect with their feelings, which can be a slow and difficult process, but recovery for workaholism is possible.

If you're an unhappy workaholic, there are steps you can take to change your lifestyle for the better, says Dr. Steven Ino, a clinical psychologist at the University of California-Santa Barbara who specializes in work addictions.

"There are stressors in the workplace that are very real," he says. "Organizations expect more and more from us, and employees without great energy, drive and determination may not make it. It's often true that you have to be somewhat work-addicted to survive. But most workaholics I see in treatment resent the time they spend on the job. They think it ruins whatever personal life they might have, but haven't a clue about what they need to do to change things around. They take on everyone else's responsibilities because they don't think anyone else can do the work as well as they can," he says.

To start dealing with an unhealthy work addiction, you should carefully appraise why you continue to work so single-mindedly despite the physical and emotional harm. - link

I think I'm a borderline workaholic, but I may just be in denial about being a full workaholic.

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