Many people throw themselves into their work. Your job can be very fulfilling, and it can often be the thing that drives you the most. Work can make you feel needed, proud, and it can give you a sense of purpose.
But what happens if you feel that your work becomes an obsession that takes over your life?
If this sounds like you, then you could be a workaholic. While it’s great to be dedicated to your job, there’s a big difference between enjoying your job and living for it.
Studies show that workaholics are often more prone to anxiety and other stress-related disorders. So, how can you tell if your anxiety is a driving factor behind your work obsession?
How To Tell If You’re A Workaholic
A workaholic is generally someone who is addicted to their work. Most of the time, they are someone who enjoys their work and feels compelled to do it. This is not the same as just being hardworking. You may be in trouble if you struggle with “unplugging” or maintaining a normal work/life balance.
There are also a few warning signs to indicate that you are a workaholic as well. For instance, you may spend much more time on your work than initially intended. Or you may feel stressed or in some way unproductive if you are not always working.
Perhaps you feel like you’re not being proactive enough if you’re not working. You may have even been told not to work as much as you do. Many workaholics feel uneasy and anxious when they are not working.
What Is Anxiety?
Anxiety is the intense feeling of fear, worry, nervousness, and apprehension. Anxiety may be mild or severe, as we all feel anxiety from time to time. However, someone who suffers from anxiety may struggle with panic attacks, where they may sweat, tremble or feel tense and weak.
When someone has anxiety, their body may go on high alert and they may have a fight or flight response to certain situations. So, how are anxiety and workaholism connected?
How Anxiety And Workaholics Are Linked
For some people, anxiety can seriously affect and impact their ability to work. For others, anxiety manifests itself as workaholism. Recent studies have shown that nearly three times as many workaholics have anxiety disorders as those who are not workaholics.
Workaholism is more prevalent now than ever, with employers wanting longer hours, and workers feeling endlessly connected and available to employers. Tech like laptops, mobile phones, and devices keep workers linked mentally and emotionally to their jobs with little reprieve.
One of the main struggles that workaholics face is being unable to disconnect and close off or finish work for the day without a measure of guilt. They may feel worried about not working, or that they should be working endless hours or always doing more than expected.
It’s that sense that leads to feelings of stress, fear, and anxiety. Recent studies of over 16,000 working people aged 16 to 75 years completed many surveys to gauge their addiction to work.
Overall, around 8% of the respondents had what researchers would consider workaholism, and are overly concerned about work or have an uncontrollable urge to work. Of those who are workaholics, over 34% met all of the criteria for anxiety, with 25% meeting the criteria for OCD and 33 percent showing signs of ADHD.
The rates for anxiety are two to four times higher in workaholics than in non-workaholics. Therefore, anxiety may be a driving factor in your approach to work. To ease your compulsion to work, you may want to seek guidance and counseling to help manage your anxiety and coping mechanisms.
Finally…
Recent studies showed that workaholics are more prone to disorders such as OCD and other anxiety disorders. Are you concerned that you may be a workaholic? Are you anxious and suffering physically, emotionally, and relationally because of the way you work? It is best to speak to a therapist for support. Please read more about anxiety therapy and reach out soon for a consultation.
