Workaholics can undermine their own happiness

Labor Day is a national tribute to American workers who have increased the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

The character of the Labor Day holiday has changed in recent years and is simply viewed by many as the end of the summer. Many businesses and educational facilities remain open with little or no observance of the holiday.

This change is viewed as good news by the workaholic who has a focused relationship on work that excludes the need for holidays, self nurturing, and relationships.


Although workaholism is not a formal diagnostic classification of mental illness, those who have lived with a workaholic know of workaholism’s destructive potential.

Following are possible “symptoms” that the workaholic may endorse:

• Work is the activity that I like to do best and get more excited about than just about anything else in life.

• I often work more than 40-50 hours a week.

• I believe that it is okay to work long hours if you love what you are doing.

• I often get impatient with individuals who don’t put work first in their lives.

• I am annoyed by people telling me to stop work and pursue other activities.

• I admit that long hours and dedication to work has impaired my relationships with friends and family.

• I often take work home at night, on the weekends, and vacations.

• My family and friends have given up on expecting me to be on time.

• During conversations, my mind often wonders back to work.

• I often work or read during mealtime.

• I secretly worry that if I do not work hard I might lose my job or be considered a failure.

Like those who routinely and excessively over eat, chronically over spend or habitually abuse drugs or alcohol, workaholics lose the ability to control their work behaviors. Denial, defensive and even evasive responses occur when they are confronted. At times, elaborate schemes are developed to hide the workaholic’s immersion in his or her work. They may “slip off” to the office after regular hours by pretending to be engaged in a non-work related activity.

New technology such as e-mail, cellular phones, facsimile transmissions have made it possible for the workaholic to work in many situations. The workaholic in today’s world often feels that he is potentially productive at all times thus undermining the work/life balance.

Next week I will continue my discussion of workaholism.

Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 2002