If you are addicted to work
The hard-working colleague who turns off the light every night and is the first to arrive in the morning may seem like the ideal employee. But maybe behind that perfectionist who never wants to outsource work, there is a workaholic.
Of course, someone who puts a lot of time into his job is not always a workaholic or a so-called workaholic. We’re only talking about workaddiction or workaholism when someone is not only very busy with his work, but also in a compulsive way.
The true workaholic has an unstoppable inner urge to carry on, thinks about nothing else in his spare time and feels restless, useless, guilty and stressed out if it is not possible to work. Once started, the addict relaxes. In short, work becomes an obsession.
Causes
There are several possible causes for developing a work addiction. Some people need new experiences and challenges all the time. They get a kick out of great results, but they always need new incentives. Others don’t feel useful until they work hard or simply don’t know what to do with free time.
Workaholics are often perfectionists with a great sense of responsibility. They feel anxious and insecure and make high demands on themselves. Sometimes work is an excuse because other things in their lives aren’t going so well. As long as you throw yourself into your work, workaholics don’t have to think about other things.
Effects
Workaholics can make it very difficult for their environment. They put so much energy and time into their work that they hardly have time to spend with their partner or family. They feel that they are the only ones who can perform their duties properly and therefore prefer not to delegate anything. That can cause problems with colleagues.
His addiction is also not healthy for the workaholic himself. If you focus solely on your work, a healthy lifestyle will soon be lost. After all, regular exercise and good nutrition are at the expense of the time you can spend in front of the computer.
If you do have the urge, but not (anymore) the strength to work all the time, a burnout on the lurk. In addition, workaholics often lose their friends because they do not allow themselves space for a social life. The obsession with work puts pressure on the relationship with the partner and any children.
burnout
Workaholics usually only visit their doctor when it is actually too late. They do not see themselves that they have a problem until they burn out or develop depressive symptoms. The symptoms of depression and burnout are partially similar. Characteristics common to both include, for example, a depressed mood, guilt, insomniafatigue, concentration problems and forgetfulness.
Some of the aforementioned characteristics also occur in other addictions, such as alcohol or drug use. People often do not tell their GP that they are dealing with a drug or alcohol problem. For example, it can happen that a depression or burnout is diagnosed, while there is actually an addiction.
Conversely, you can also develop an addiction as a result of a depression or burnout. To numb your feelings, take refuge in drink, drugs, medicine or gambling. So things can go from bad to worse.
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