Work Addiction

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Does what you do at work define your life? Do you use your job as a means of seeking approval, or as an escape? Has work become your primary reason for being? Have your loved ones complained that you are always at work, or that your attention is on work while at home? If this sounds familiar, you may have a work addiction.

Unable to set healthy limits around their job schedules, work addicts use work as the source of life satisfaction. As with other forms of addictive behaviors, work addicts are consumed only with themselves. However, the addiction’s consequences affect not only the individual, but his or her family and co-workers as well.

Work addiction stems from underlying emotional needs and manifests in compulsive behaviors. Work addicts are driven to perform, while at the same time, they are unable to relax or feel a sense of accomplishment. In many instances, their behaviors are self-imposed and based on inaccurate self-perceptions. Work addicts tend to exaggerate both their importance and their accomplishments. Just as an alcoholic uses liquor to deaden pain, a work addict uses work to avoid negative emotions.

At The Meadows, we look beyond the symptoms of work addiction to treat the addict’s core issues, including self-esteem, moderation, reality, dependence, and boundaries. To find out how you can regain control of your schedule and life, contact The Meadows at
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