Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Workaholics
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=51425
This article states that there’s a difference between working hard and being a workaholic.
Do you think being a workaholic should be considered an addiction? And if so what qualities
make it so addicting? What makes the difference between working hard and being a workaholic?
Is it as the article says that hard workers generally have some balance in their lives and they
sit at their desks and think about skiing whereas the workaholic is on the ski slopes thinking
about work? Why would someone deem this as a “respectable addiction”? Is there some type of
chemical satisfaction the abuser feels? How
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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is mentioned in the article as being the culprit behind workaholism. Addicts use drugs and other things to escape from their current emotional state. They are addicts because they want to get rid of pain and suffering, not so much as to feel the specific effect of the drug or activity. Workaholics, as the article describes, seems to identify these people as workers that simply work too much. While it may be possible that workaholics feel like they have work to "escape," the article does not mention the reason why workaholics choose to work so much. The fact that these people think about work away from work, I believe, does not provide enough information to classify this OCD branch as an addiction. Still, people call this an addiction, and a respectable addiction, at that. This is because it is a stereotype that addicts do not work hard, and a hard worker is another stereotype in our culture that describes someone as a valuable and respectable person.
ReplyDeleteIn todays society and with the economy the way it is, I believe it's extremely difficult to diagnose a workaholic. Bread winners may have to put in more hours per week just to provide the family with basic needs. I do believe there is such thing as someone getting too caught up in work but I don't believe it can be declared an addiction. With an addiction, the "addict" is encouraged to stop/reverse the behavior. Work and earning money isn't something you can just drop. I don't think that work should consume someones every thought but to declare it an addiction would be difficult if possible at all.
ReplyDeletebut it does talk about using work as an escape, and many people do this by working overtime when they do not have too in order to escape responsibility and creating close ties to those they are supposedly working for.
DeleteI think that working could potentially be an addiction. It can consume their thoughts, such as when they are not at work they are constantly thinking about it like ways to improve or new ideas for a project. How drug or alcohol addicts get a feeling of high or satisfaction from use, workaholics can also get that feeling of satisfaction from completing something or making more money for their family. THe difference between working hard and being a workaholic though is that workaholics continue to work even after they are finished; they have a feeling that they need to continue doing something. The user finds a chemical satisfaction in the adrenaline from all the stress they get.
ReplyDeleteI think that although it doesn't seem like a legitimate addiction, I do think that it can be considered a true addiction. It may be tough to diagnose it because there is a very fine line between working more than usual and being considered a workaholic. Because of this, I have to disagree with the fact that a work addiction isn't considered a real addiction. It is hard to call it an addiction because society has the common idea that people are addicted to bad things, and only bad things happen because of them. However, work isn't necessarily a bad thing, and the rewards of work (money, promotion, etc.) aren't bad either, and both hard workers and workaholics desire these things. What differentiates the two is that, like Amanda stated, workaholics constantly feel the need to work, making them completely separate from their lives outside of the office. I think that because it is hard to see the faults over the few benefits of being addicted to work, society has a common misconception of not considering the addiction to work a legitimate addiction.
ReplyDeleteI actually feel that workaholism could be considered an addiction. While it is normal for work to sometimes get in the way of things like soccer games and school plays, there is a point at which spending too much time with work will begin to majorly affect the personal life of a workaholic. Family life and personal free time are some of the most important things in someones life, and when those things are compromised, I think that person needs to seek out help. I don't see any problem with labeling workaholism as an addiction. It is clearly an issue, so why not treat it? I understand that there are times when people abuse the term "addiction," which is why we carefully consider what qualifies something as an actual addiction. But because treatment for workaholism does not involve drugs, I think it is ok to call it an addiction and treat it seriously.
ReplyDeleteI think that there is a definite difference between a workaholic and a hard worker because of how much they differ in thinking about work. Workaholics might use work as an escape from a difficult situation at home, a dysfunctional family, bad marriage, the list goes on and on. A hard worker probably doesn't use work as an escape, so they do not find going to work appealing. I don't think that being a workaholic can be considered an addiction because its probably more of a comfort thing than it is an addiction. If these workaholics home lives were better they might not think about work as much.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jeremy in the fact that with todays economy being the way it is, it will would be very difficult to classify who is and isnt a workaholic. People today have to go above and beyond expectations just so that their companies wont want to consider laying them off. It would not be fair to classify someone as having an addiction, when all they are doing what it takes to keep food on their families plates.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely say that excessive working is an addiction. It seems like there is a fine line between a workaholic and a hard worker but I don't really think so. I think it is easy to tell just by looking at how satisfied with life someone is. I think it's all about spending time doing the things one value while considering everything that a family needs. For example, I think parents should spend their time and efforts making sure they and their children are happy, healthy and being taken care of. A part of taking care of their children is making sure there is enough money to comfortably support the family. It is unrealistic for parents to not work because everyone needs money to support their families. However, when working gets in the way of the priorities of the family, then that's when we have an addiction.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Darlene, I completely agree that working excessively is an addiction. I feel like the part in the article that talks about how a workaholic thinks about work while on the ski slopes in completely true. So often you see people doing business while they are supposed to be relaxing and having fun. I think that anything that changes the way someone lives their life can be an addiction. Many people are hard workers but that does not mean they have an addiction, it just means that they have goals and they are working towards something. It would not be fair at all to say someone who is working constantly to make money to support their family is a workaholic. They are just doing something that they need to do. If a person is able to leave work at the office is someone who is a hard worker without being addicted.
ReplyDeleteworking hard and being a workaholic can have a thin line. When one works hard they hard just trying to have success but a workaholic may just be obsessed with the thought of succession. I don't think that being a workaholic can necessarily be an addiction but the obsession of work can still be dangerous. This can be considered a "respectable addiction" because who doesn't like one who works? On the other hand, maybe a spouse or child may not like their partner/parent who won't take time out for them.
ReplyDeleteNaturally everybody hates to work and every one could have wished he/she stays at home and receives free pay checked. it is the financial commitments of individuals that makes them work more but it not that they really love thier job so much.Therefore one cannot be addicted to work
ReplyDelete