Addiction at work

Workaholism occurs when all a person's thoughts, energy and aspirations are focused on their work, to the detriment of their family and social life, and their health. Workaholics take advantage of the Internet to continue working almost anywhere, anytime. Nor can they do without their work e-mail or cell phone.

Everyone experiences moments of professional hyperactivity, during which the rest of life is neglected in favor of work. What distinguishes overworked workers from addicts is that, for them, it's a matter of satisfying a definite, time-limited need. As soon as it's over, they happily return to the activities of their private and social lives, something that dependent workers are incapable of doing.

For them, inactivity provokes thoughts, existential anxieties, a sense of emptiness and uselessness. Work is an escape and an attempt to obtain a positive, gratifying image of themselves, in their own eyes and in the eyes of everyone else (boss, colleagues, employees...). They set themselves unattainable goals of perfection and exemplarity.

To keep up with their 12, 15 or 18-hour working day, they sometimes consume large quantities of coffee, stimulants, even amphetamines or cocaine.

 
Stress adds to fatigue, with the long-term corollary of a significant reduction in work capacity and the onset of physical and psychological disorders: sleep problems, headaches, chronic fatigue, ulcers, hypertension, burn-out, depression, etc.

Usually, it takes a major event for the compulsive worker to become aware of his or her condition: a cardiac accident, a divorce, an illness.. 

Les thérapies comportementales pourront l'aider à réapprendre à vivre plus normalement, tandis qu'une psychanalyse l'aidera à panser la blessure qui est à la base de son comportement.