Workaholic: definition, manifestations, treatment methods

According to the Englishman Charles Darwin, labor made a man out of a monkey. Our famous compatriot Vissarion Belinsky argued that labor ennobles a person. Both of these have been suggested to most of us since childhood. Like the truth that patience and labor will grind everything. And it’s hard to disagree. Without hard work, it is practically impossible to achieve at least some significant results in any industry.

Unfortunately, for some, labor becomes not an end in itself, but an end in itself. It's about workaholics. Consonance with "alcoholics" is no coincidence. Both are at risk. Most often, they lose their health, their psyche is shaken, they have no friends, no family, and in principle the joys of life are unknown to them. Who are the workaholics, and how do they become?

Workaholics are not born, they become. These are people who allowed themselves to be completely absorbed in their work. In psychology and psychotherapy, this form of addictive behavior is considered nothing more than a disease. A person with such a diagnosis is most often an insecure individual. This type of dependence is accompanied by inappropriate behavior and outlook on life, altered state of consciousness. The main definition and characteristic of such a person is a strong, pathological craving for work, which he has in the first place in life.

Experts call the following prerequisites for turning a person into a workaholic:

• When you were a child, you avoided problems at work, sat down for classes, ran to collect waste paper, and plunged into the social life of the class.
• Your parents worked, as they say, in good faith. They spent day and night at work, while earning little, but their photographs were on the honor board, their bedroom was hung with letters and awards for military labor.
• You waited so much praise from mom and dad in your childhood that you were ready to do the cleaning for hours, cook breakfast for them, take out the trash daily, and deal with your younger sister.
• You want to feel your own worth as a result of your work.
• It is difficult for you to find a common language with people, you feel uncomfortable in the company.
• For your labors, it’s enough for you to get praise from your bosses, you are less interested in money and other benefits.

If something like this happened to you, you may already have taken the first step into the abyss of workaholism. So how do you recognize a workaholic in yourself or a loved one and stop the process of personality destruction in time?

This disease, like most others, develops gradually. And in the initial stages, it manifests itself weakly. Therefore, it is very difficult to immediately identify it. Moreover, initially such zeal is evaluated by colleagues and bosses as a positive example. A workaholic works 20 hours a day, 30 days a month. Thus accumulates fatigue, but does not show the form.

Yesterday’s idler can turn into a workaholic. In different countries of the world they are looking for methods to combat this disease. After all, it is not in vain that labor legislation regularly changes, which stands for the protection of the “working class”. We all have the right not only to work, but also to rest, and are simply obliged to use it. Endless work will inevitably lead to exhaustion, both physical and moral.

But first, you will come across the following phenomena:

• You don’t want to meet and talk with anyone, you simply don’t have the time or energy to do this.
• You are immersed in yourself, become closed.
• You find solace in gambling or alcohol.
• You are not capable of manifesting feelings.
• You have forgotten how to enjoy, as well as the ability to rejoice in principle.
• You are not even interested in what used to be the meaning of life.
• You often swear. In principle, aggression and anger become characteristic of you.
• You get tired quickly, and it infuriates you even more.

We are not groovy bunnies, we can not change the battery at any convenient time. We ourselves must spend our energy wisely.

If among the following you find a wording familiar to your behavior, it's time to think:

• You neglect the rest.
• Out of work, you become irritable.
• Without work, you are dissatisfied.
• You are ready to shoulder the responsibilities of others.
• You feel a surge of energy, your own self-sufficiency and self-confidence, only being in the workplace.
• Returning home, you immediately darken, become vulnerable, you are not interested in anything.
• From your colleagues, as well as from yourself, you demand transcendent dedication.
• You hate criticism.
• Any failure at work is driving you crazy.
• In addition to work, you are not happy.
• You take work home or come to the office even on your day off.
• All conversations at home or in meetings with friends you have only about work.
• Going to bed, you think about work.
• You are not interested in how much you will earn, but only in how much you will be concerned.

Workaholics are different. Depending on the social status, mental state, education in the end.

The “active” life position of such a workaholic does not give him time to relax. He cares about everything that happens in the work collective and every colleague. Colleagues, in turn, at best laugh at him, at worst they hate him.

This workaholic served by the authorities and themselves, every now and then takes work home. For example, this is an accountant who takes home a weekend to finish reporting.

A talented person is talented in everything. So workaholics from creative personalities are extraordinary. They do not sleep for days to finish a book, a play, stage a play, make a film. Once finished with one project, they immediately take on another.

This workaholic "lives" in the gym. And he optional professional athlete. Among fitness fans, they are also found. They are not afraid of heavy loads and, as a result, numerous injuries. But unfortunately, this is just an illusion, which often not only dumps such a workaholic from Olympus, but also brings him to a wheelchair.

Such workaholics are more common among the fair half of humanity. They forget that they are the weaker sex and go, as it seems to them, to protect even more vulnerable - children. They forget to make a manicure or tint gray hair, but they definitely know the lesson schedule of their child, the time of the next parental meeting, they organize outdoor trips, holidays for the whole class. And all this is definitely good, but such ladies literally spit on themselves. Does the child need such a mother?

These workaholics can still be quickly helped. Despite the fact that they spend most of their time and energy at work, sometimes a thought arises in their bright mind, but am I too zealous? Moreover, sometimes they try to find the joys of life outside of work.

To help such workaholics is difficult or almost impossible. He is happy with everything, and the fact that his absence causes suffering to relatives, he does not notice. As he does not notice practically anything around, except for work, of course. Therefore and there is no problem for him, which means that he will refuse help.

Perhaps the most common type of workaholic. It seems to him that everything is working out for him, which means that there are no problems. He goes to his goal, destroying everything in his path, his own health, relationships with loved ones and even his savings, which often do not return to him.

This type is treatable in some cases. Such a workaholic literally beats against the wall. He only pretends to work a lot. As a result, his efforts do not lead to anything. His actions are irrational. He simply has nothing more to do. And sometimes he admits it.

Companion is difficult, but treatable. He constantly complains that he is tired. He says that he is forced to do more than he is able to fulfill. Such a workaholic supposedly forever overloaded. In fact, rushing to work, because only there he feels his need. Fear of loneliness and underestimation makes a person so.

A workaholic, like other addicts, is difficult to cure. But the sooner you start doing it, the better. Without the help of a specialist, treatment is unlikely to be effective. It is best to contact a qualified psychologist who will help you stop being a workaholic and learn how to relax.

A workaholic is dangerous primarily for himself. Sooner or later he has insomnia, he becomes forgetful, irritable, he is characterized by sharp mood swings. As a result - frequent headaches, nervous tics, dizziness and other "charms". There is even an opinion that excessive labor dependence leads to dementia.

If you feel that such a disease is only approaching you, then try to stop it at the “threshold”.

To do this, experts recommend giving themselves honest answers to the following questions:

• What are you fleeing from at work? Are you afraid of being alone or, conversely, are companies scaring you?
• What scares you more - the failure that befalls at work, or the punishment that you will suffer for it?
• What makes you go to work after school? The desire to feel meaningful or necessary, or maybe you just don’t know what else to do?
• Do you like the role of savior of everyone and everything? But do you need the help of the "saved"?
• Do you like being praised and saying thank you?
• You feel more confident when everything is under your strict control.

Only by understanding the reasons for your penchant for workaholism, you can get away from this dependence. Often the roots of the problem are buried in childhood. You spilled a bed all day, but your mom didn’t notice, you got a five, and your dad didn't buy a chocolate bar. So you are waiting for lost gratitude. But believe me, this will not lead to anything good. You drive yourself. Chronic fatigue, nervous exhaustion, painful condition - workaholics have no time to go to the doctor.