How To Tell If You’re Addicted To Work
Long hours, loss of sleep and work-related paranoia are all symptoms of a real mental health condition: work addiction. Work addiction is an inability to stop certain negative behaviors related to work. It can stem from a compulsive need to achieve success or it can be a way to escape emotional stress.
In an office culture or working from home situation where hard work is celebrated and putting in overtime can be the norm that’s expected, it might be hard to recognize this addiction. Some people often justify their behavior by tying it to their success. Ambition and addiction are different things.
Symptoms of work addiction include:
- Putting in long hours, even when not needed
- Losing sleep to finish tasks
- Being obsessed with work-related success
- Having intense fear of failure at work
- Being paranoid about work performance
- Personal relationships falling apart because of work
- Working to cope with feelings of guilt or depression
Achieving a work-life balance is an important part of our overall health. People who suffer from work addiction may experience burnout, which can weaken the immune system. Fortunately, work addiction is manageable. With treatment, people can restore a healthy work-life balance.
The following changes might help:
- Making lifestyle changes like prioritizing sleep and personal relationships
- Balancing your life activities
- Avoiding stressors and triggers
If you have symptoms of work addiction, behavioral health care is available via telehealth services . You can talk to a licensed specialist from wherever you’re most comfortable.
