Karoshi is the Japanese word for the condition resulting from work addiction. Karoshi translates to mean “death by overwork.” Karoshi is estimated to claim over 1,000 lives a year mainly through stress related heart attack and stroke. The term “leisure illness” is a related condition in the Netherlands which describes the 3% of its population who become physically sick over the weekend or on vacation when they attempt to stop working and relax. The term “workaholism” was coined in the U.S. to describe the most respectable, encouraged and praised of all addictions. Sought after and rewarded as workaholism; it is in fact as dangerous and fatal as any other addiction and affects millions of people who hold jobs and those who don’t.
Workaholism is known as a process addiction. A process addiction is an addiction to certain behaviors or processes that alter mood and brain chemistry. Unlike chemical addiction, the brain is altered by the process of engaging in an activity as opposed to introducing a chemical to the body. The term addiction encompasses any recurring compulsion or obsession by an individual despite negative consequences in their life and an inability to cease the activity and remain stopped. Besides workaholism, process addictions include eating disorders, love addiction, sexual disorders, shopping addiction, problem gambling, and internet addictions.
The Difference between Hard Work and Workaholism
"Yes, workaholism is an addiction, an obsessive-compulsive disorder, and it's not the same as working hard or putting in long hours," says Bryan Robinson, PhD, one of the nation's leading researchers on the disorder and author of Chained to the Desk and other books on workaholism. Dr Robinson tells WebMD, "Hard work put us on the moon and discovered vaccinations and built this country, but hard workers generally have some balance in their lives. They sit at their desks and think about skiing. The workaholic is on the ski slopes thinking about work."
For a workaholic the obsession with working is relentless and goes far beyond being a “type A” personality. It prevents the individual from engaging in healthy relationships, sustaining outside interests, or even physically caring for themselves. An athlete will have moments where their sport is all encompassing and training takes up much of their time but overall many athletes are also able to have some balance in their lives. It becomes a problem when there is no balance and boundaries are weak. Like an alcoholic who needs a drink not who wants one, the workaholic will miss important family functions and holidays not because they have to work but because they need to work. And much like a drug addict who even when not using will be obsessing about their next score, the workaholic may pry themselves away for a vacation but they cannot be fully present because their mind is still on work.
As with drug and alcohol addiction, usually a bottom has to be reached before the individual will realize there is a problem especially when someone who overworks is much more rewarded by society than a heroin addict. However when children suffer or are neglected by an absent parent, or when health fails and marriages fall apart some workaholics realize they have a problem.
As with other addictions, denial can play a major role. The career or work becomes who the individual is, not what they do. Many workaholics develop an altered perception of their lives for which they are supported and compensated for by corporations. The long term health care costs are not considered upfront.
James Fearing, Ph.D., C.C.D.P., President and CEO of National Counseling Intervention Services (NCIS), Inc. developed the following key questions commonly used in evaluating the work addiction syndrome (derived from selfgrowth.com);
The Work Addiction Syndrome Checklist
- How much time do you spend working, and how much time do you spend with family, friends, etc.? Is your work schedule causing problems in your family or social life?
- Do you feel out of control or powerless at times when it comes to setting limits, going home or quitting work for the day?
- Are you having a difficult time enjoying the “fruits” of your labors, in spite of the financial success or being respected and admired in your company or industry?
- Do you break promises to yourself, family, or friends regarding work time, travel schedules, and other related employment activities?
- Do you have difficulty “letting go” and delegating work?
- Has your work patterns affected intimate friendships, and/or important social activities you once enjoyed such as vacations, fishing, sports, museums, reading?
- When on vacation, is it difficult to relax and disengage from work, therefore interrupting or contaminating your vacation time with family or friends? (Phone calls, laptop, pagers)
- Has your physical health deteriorated due to an excessive work schedule? Have you continued to “push the needle into the red” in spite of warnings from your doctor, psychologist, colleague, or boss?
- Have you surprised yourself at how easy you “fly off the handle” or “lose it” these days? Are people in your life having to “tip toe” around you due to this volatility? Is this different than you use to be?
- Have you unsuccessfully attempted to cut down or stop from overworking, over committing, staying at the office, etc. Promising to spend more time at home, going to the gym or golf course, and not following through.
If you answered yes to three or more of these questions, you may be suffering from the Work Addiction Syndrome. If so support and recommendations available from working with an experienced professional can be found on this website. Support and objectivity from a caring professional can help.