6 myths about “workaholism.”

Everyone has a buddy who does nothing but work: that one friend who is willing to work on their day off and does not see this as an issue. If you don’t have one, you might as well be that friend.

Nataliya Vaitkevich: Pexels

The term “workaholism” has quickly entered our daily vocabulary, but people still don’t know how to apply this term correctly and do not know much about this phenomenon.

Let’s play a quick game before going into the remainder of the article: Count how many of the following statements (see below) you deem correct and post your response in the comment section. Check yourself after finishing the article to see how many myths we were able to debunk!

• Workaholism is an addiction.
• The number of hours spent at work determines the addiction.
• Work addiction is similar to other behavioral addictions like gambling, kleptomania, shopaholism, etc.
• The development of this addiction is influenced mainly by personal factors.
• Workaholics remain relatively healthy.
• This addiction will never be listed as a disorder in the DSM.

Now let’s dispel a few myths to better understand your workaholic buddy or shine light on your own addiction:

1. Workaholism = work addiction
   Let’s clarify, “workaholism” is an outdated term that should be abandoned since it causes confusion. These days, this term refers both to the addiction itself and its positive, non-addiction-related aspects — “work engagement.” Workaholism is viewed both as a problem and as praise, which further aggravates the condition of those suffering from this addiction.
2. “The number of hours spent at work determines the addiction.”
   In reality, your friend may leave work on time while still suffering from this disorder. While there is a correlation between addiction and working hours, this is not the primary factor influencing it. Disruptive and uncontrolled attitudes and feelings toward work are the main factors, not necessarily HOW MUCH your friend works, but HOW he does.
3. “Work addiction is similar to other behavioral addictions.”
   This is not correct. What do gambling, kleptomania and shopaholism have in common? Of course, it is the apparent damage to physical and mental health and social and legal difficulties.
   On the other hand, everything is much more difficult with workaholism: people become aware of their addiction while greatly benefiting from it: increased social status, high productivity and greater earnings, for example.
   It is challenging for your buddy to quit this habit since, unlike other “condemned” addictions, he continuously receives rewards for his destructive behavior. Thank you so much, capitalism!
4. “The development of this addiction is influenced mainly by personal factors.”
   It may seem that a friend is “just that kind of person.” If he was a little more persistent and extroverted, he could begin to live differently! But no… According to research, cultural, family, organizational, and professional factors all significantly influence the development of this addiction.
   This is a time-sensitive issue that can affect any of us.
5. “Workaholics remain relatively healthy.”
   “Well, he works a lot, and so what? Perhaps he doesn’t need a personal life!” Unfortunately, this addiction is not limited to social issues: workaholics are far more prone to acquire physical and mental diseases. Imagine this, in addition to working overtime, he will also be sick all the time… there will certainly be no time left for personal life.
6. “Workaholism will never be listed as a disorder in the DSM.”
   There are two reasons why this addiction has not been included in the DSM yet. The first reason is that labor addiction, is viewed primarily from an organizational rather than a clinical perspective. The second reason is the substandard quality and the low number of empirical studies. It’s simply that not everyone is aware of it just yet.

These are only six myths, but there are many more. It’s important to note that this is a relatively new topic for researchers, so we’ll probably soon discover how little we know. If there is one thing we know for sure, it is that it is essential to take care of oneself and establish a healthy work-life balance from the first day on the job.
In the instance of your work-addicted friend, suggest that he takes a break and sees how he feels. If he is totally unable to stop thinking about work, a mental health professional can provide a variety of treatments.

We at Lampa.AI monitor the health of employees working in organizations world wide and help them unlock their fullest professional potential.
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