Many competent professionals (myself included) have difficulty discerning the difference between workaholism and passionate work. I was not surprised to learn that although I meet all of the characteristics of a workaholic, I am equally considered a passionate worker. Workaholism is known as the “acceptable and respectable addiction.” I ponder this incredible oxymoron as I realize that workaholism contributes to significant problems. According to an article in the American Journal of Family Therapy, workaholics come in all shapes and sizes, and the health-related problems associated with work addiction cost an estimated $150 billion per year. Still, 30 years after the term “workaholic” was coined, no clear definition exists.

The chronic stress of constant work can lead to significant physical and mental health problems. Additionally, high stress can lead to high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for heart disease and heart attack. Also, stress compromises the immune system, making workaholics more vulnerable to other illnesses. According to the psychotherapist Bryan Robinson, in Japan, 10,000 workers a year drop dead at their desks as a result of 60- to 70-hour work weeks, a phenomenon known as “karoshi.” Robinson also found that those who were married to workaholics had higher divorce rates, greater rates of marital estrangement, fewer positive feelings about their marriage, and felt less in control of their lives and marriages (Kircheimer, 2004).

So, how does passionate work differ from workaholism? The true difference is that passionate work (unlike workaholism) does not allow us to destroy ourselves in the process. The passionate worker is continually cognizant of his or her boundaries and places the highest priority on balancing his or her passionate work with social, spiritual, physical, intellectual and family life. This, of course, is not an easy task; it requires consistency, support and help from others. YES — help! I often ask my loved ones to remind me before a social event to leave the laptop at home and turn the cell phone off. I must leave my desk for lunch in order to enjoy my meal and personal time. Of course, work does not cause workaholism — right?

I would be careless if I didn’t mention technology. I love today’s technologic world, but I also hate what technology has done to our social environment. Yes, life for the passionate worker requires human contact — not just an email or text! Talking or meeting with live people brings out the passion for our work, provides us support and gives us the ability to connect to others with passion. This, I believe, “feeds” the passionate soul! Technology definitely has its place, but does an “emoticon” (emotion icon, representing feelings) really provide the human contact we need? I think, not.

Am I justifying my workaholism by using the term passionate work? Perhaps I am no longer in denial of my obsessive nature to work all the time — perhaps I am continually seeking and finding the much needed balance. How about you? I am sure this all sounds familiar. Those with addictions are challenged daily to balance and reduce potential harm — thank goodness for addiction professionals and support groups. Harm reduction is, perhaps, the only way to treat workaholism — what have you done for yourself lately?

References

Kircheimer, S. (2004). Workaholism: The ‘Respectable’ Addiction. WebMD. Retrieved from http://www.medicinenet.com, Nov. 2008.

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Longville1  - Great Article   |71.221.57.xxx |2009-02-26 04:01:12 One idea I would add is this question I ask myself and others, "WHat would your life be like if you didn't do what you do?" I then feel the emotions as well as observe my own thoughts about this. The answers can be quite revealing! Laura in SD Reply 0   0

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