March 2002

That Most Noble of Addictions: Workaholism

by Jean Johnson, WSBA Lawyers' Assistance Program

Not long ago I was waiting in a ferry line and overheard a conversation between two people discussing a mutual friend. Both had noticed and were concerned about her workplace "addiction." They easily used the term "workaholic" as they described how she kept taking on more and more "valid" projects, which kept her distanced from her life and its problems — essentially providing her an escape hatch from the world. It struck me that the term "workaholic" is now part of our vernacular and that this casual conversation reflected a genuine understanding of the workaholic phenomenon and how we use it to avoid psychological discomfort.

Strangely enough, we can live in the clutches of a full-blown addiction and feel a sense of pride and satisfaction about it. The accolades of responsibility, dedication and reliability are bestowed upon countless people who work those extra hours, and who perform above and beyond the call of duty. In America we pay homage to diligence, hard work and success. One is often rewarded with money or status. To complicate matters, mixed messages are routinely doled out, touting the importance of a balanced life and of time spent with family and friends. Yet, people are often penalized or subtly chastised for not making the expected commitments and sacrifices. This promotes and institutionalizes a socially acceptable and destructive addiction.

The capitalist system of the American culture engenders a strong work ethic; however, the appearance of diligent work can be the deceptive guise of a more ominous reality — that of compulsive behavior run rampant. Earnest work efforts can insidiously transmute into addictive tendencies with dire consequences.

It is a hardwired human need to experience a sense of competence. From learning how to tie our own shoes to winning "Most Valuable Player" in the World Series, the work ethic is a firmly implanted American cultural norm. Our daily lives are made up of myriad tasks that we have mastered. But at what point do we slip over the line and fully engage in a compulsively driven mode that has little to do with completing the task at hand?

On the surface, workaholism may look no different from working hard. But for the workaholic, work is the buffer between oneself and unwelcome moods and feelings. It becomes the only haven that provides meaning, identity and self-worth. Work may also feed the inclination to make ourselves indispensable in the futile effort to satisfy the insatiable — the need to feel needed. Fertile ground for workaholism occurs when self-image is deeply embedded in vocational achievements. We work longer hours and take on more projects to enhance our self-worth. Our perceived value is then precariously linked to work-related performance and accomplishments, leaving us extremely vulnerable to psychological devastation when the outcome is disappointing, or when we fail. The workplace may evolve into the only arena where "life" truly plays out. Family and friends exist somewhere in the dim periphery. With the absence of connection and interaction, the quality of those relationships inevitably erodes.

The common denominator of workaholics is that they all work too much; however, there are different manifestations of the same underlying condition. Therapist Bryan Robinson, Ph.D., author of Chained to the Desk: A Guidebook for Workaholics, Their Partners and Children, and the Clinicians Who Treat Them, identifies four major styles of workaholism:

Bulimic Workaholic Style — where the internal message is: "I need to do this perfectly or not at all." It resembles the bulimic eating disorder with its fluctuation between self-imposed hunger and binge eating, as one cycles through procrastination, then the eventual excessive work effort that often includes all-nighters and, finally, total exhaustion. Intense anxiety lurks during the procrastination phase, generated by worrying over the work not getting done. Central to this style is the fear of not doing the task perfectly, making mistakes, and experiencing failure. The only thing that can override the obsessive, perfectionistic self-criticism is the terror of not getting the project done before the deadline.

Relentless Workaholic Style — where there is a breathless pace with no let-up. We impulsively take on too much, are not able to say "no," cannot prioritize, and are unable to delegate. At times, the quality of work suffers because we are unable to incorporate thoughtful reflection into the project at hand. Often characteristic of this style is a dependence on others' approval for a sense of self-worth.

Attention-Deficit Workaholic Style — Robinson describes this approach as a form of self-medicating by "living on the edge" in order to trigger the adrenaline response. The desired result is the rush of new ideas and the surge of energy and excitement at the initiation of a slew of projects which are left unfinished because of poor execution and the boredom that inevitably sets in. Some people may gravitate to this style as a way of combating depression.

Savoring Workaholic Style — manifests itself in a painstakingly slow and deliberate manner. We become overly attentive to details, savoring tiny minutiae, but in the process inadvertently prolonging the endeavor, creating additional work, and eventually coming up against a deadline that leaves us feeling dissatisfied with our efforts. There's a strong whiff of perfectionism inherent in this style, and as a result we feel our work is never good enough.

In reality there may be permutations of any of these styles, creating a little discomfort or a great deal of havoc in our lives. As with many addictions, people may have to "hit bottom" before change can be seriously contemplated. A precious relationship is lost, sustained stress eventually manifests in a disabling physical or psychological problem such as migraine headaches or clinical depression, or a catastrophic "crash-and-burn" episode may require hospitalization.

To shed some light on workaholic tendencies, try the quiz below, officially known as the Work Addiction Risk Test (WART). Put the number that best describes your work approach beside each statement: 1 – never true; 2 – sometimes true; 3 – often true; 4 – always true.

After responding to all 25 statements, add up your score. The scores are divided into three categories: those scoring 67-100 are exhibiting highly workaholic behavior; those falling in the middle range (57-66) are considered mildly workaholic. Those falling in the lowest range (25-56) are not engaging in workaholic behavior.

So, you've flinched at more than a few of those statements, recognizing yourself in some of the descriptions of workaholic behavior. The following list provides some concrete and philosophical suggestions that are neither novel, nor earthshaking, nor sure-fire "cures," but they can create subtle and even profound changes in a person's life.

• Believe that vacations, breaks and "down time" actually enhance your professional efforts. When work overshadows all other activities, stress results. Habitually working long hours with minimal relief leads to less productivity and increased inefficiency, and skewed perceptions of what is truly important.
• Gradually cut down the number of hours you work each day or week. Identify some logical steps such as not working on weekends, and reducing your workload by delegating or eliminating unnecessary tasks.
• Establish a firm delineation between work and other areas of your life such as play, relationships, self-care and spiritual needs. Recognize how modern technology such as fax machines, pagers, and cell phones can invade, weaken and blur those boundaries, allowing work to seep into every facet.
• Renew neglected relationships and develop new ones. Believe this is time wisely invested.
• Learn to recognize that the need to control other people, external situations and outcomes has as its genesis one's own internal chaos.
• Ask yourself what all this busyness is about — what are you distracting yourself from or valiantly trying to avoid? Are you afraid of what will come to mind if you slow down or stop? What changes might you have to make? You might not feel up to the task or may be afraid of where those changes may lead.
• Make the distinction between perfectionism and respectable standards. Underlying perfectionism is a deep sense of inadequacy.
• Don't burden yourself with unrealistic notions of your unique set of skills or unparalleled level of competence; it is camouflage for a sense of self-worth that is dependent on others' approval.

It is crucial to remember that workaholism is not a malady that appears suddenly. It is not caused by the particular work environment, nor is it an ugly but inevitable aspect of certain professions. It is a genuine psychological condition manifested by enduring behavioral, feeling and thinking patterns that people bring with them — whatever the job.

The effects of this addiction are dramatic and ultimately destructive. Take stock of what is important to you and what is possibly being short-changed. Call upon professional counseling assistance if you need someone alongside you to sort it out.

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Jean Johnson, MSW, is a clinical social worker. She can be reached at 206-727-8268.

Work Addiction Risk Test (WART)

Put the number that best describes your work approach beside each statement: 1 – never true; 2 – sometimes true; 3 – often true; 4 – always true.

1. I prefer to do most things rather than ask for help.

2. I get impatient when I have to wait for someone else or when something takes too long.

3. I seem to be in a hurry and racing against the clock.

4. I get irritated when I interrupted while I am in the middle of something.

5. I stay busy and keep many irons in the fire.

6. I find myself doing two or three things at one time, such as eating lunch and writing a memo while talking on the telephone.

7. I overcommit myself by biting off more than I can chew.

8. I feel guilty when I am not working on something.

9. It's important that I see the concrete results of what I do.

10. I am more interested in the final result of my work than in the process.

11. Things never seem to move fast enough or get done fast enough for me.

12. I lose my temper when things don't go my way or work out to suit me.

13. I ask the same question again without realizing that I've already been given the answer.

14. I spend a lot of time mentally planning and thinking about future events while tuning out the here and now.

15. I find myself continuing to work after my co-workers have called it quits.

16. I get angry when people don't meet my standards of perfection.

17. I get upset when I am in situations where I cannot be in control.

18. I tend to put myself under pressure with self-imposed deadlines.

19. It is hard for me to relax when I'm not working.

20. I spend more time working than socializing with friends, or on hobbies or leisure activities.

21. I dive into projects to get a head start before all the phases have been finalized.

22. I get upset with myself for making even the smallest mistake.

23. I put more thought, time and energy into my work than I do into my relationships with loved ones and friends.

24. I forget, ignore or minimize celebrations such as birthdays, reunions, anniversaries or holidays.

25. I make important decisions before I have all the facts and have a chance to think them through.

After responding to all 25 statements, add up your score:

67-100 exhibiting highly workaholic behavior
57-66 considered mildly workaholic
25-56 not engaging in workaholic behavior