Workaholism: when work becomes a behavioural addiction
Working a lot is not a problem in itself. An intense period, an exciting project, an important deadline: most people know phases where work takes up a large place, without this challenging their balance.
Workaholism is something else. It describes an over-investment in work that happens at the expense of personal life, with a loss of control over work behaviour. The person no longer works only to reach a goal: they work because they cannot stop, even when exhausted, even when the consequences become visible.
Like other behavioural addictions, workaholism relies on mechanisms of constrained repetition. It is not a simple « lack of willpower » or a moral flaw, but a functioning that deserves to be understood.
Can work really be an addiction?
Yes. The IFAC at Nantes University Hospital describes workaholism as a behavioural addiction: an excessive engagement in professional activity at the expense of life outside work.
The mechanisms are close to those of other addictions:
- a loss of control over behaviour;
- a persistent urge to work, even outside working hours;
- continuing the activity despite visible damage;
- difficulty interrupting, with discomfort when work stops.
What distinguishes workaholism from healthy professional engagement is precisely this constraint. The person does not choose to work: they are driven by an internal tension, guilt at rest, an inability to « switch off ».
It is also important to distinguish workaholism from burnout. Burnout is an exhaustion resulting from chronic unmanaged stress at work, recognised by the WHO in ICD-11 as a work-related phenomenon. Workaholism is an addictive behaviour: the person is often « overdriven », whereas burnout is a state of exhaustion. The two can follow one another or combine.
Warning signs
As with any addiction, it is less the hours worked than the relationship to work that makes the difference.
The inability to switch off
The person checks their emails in the evening, at weekends, during meals, on holiday. They plan their workdays even when they are supposed to be off. Work never really « leaves » them.
Guilt at rest
Resting, walking, spending time with family causes discomfort. The person feels they are « wasting time », « not doing enough ». Rest is not comfort, it is a source of anxiety.
Obsessive perfectionism
Nothing is ever good enough. The person checks, redoes, restarts, reworks every document. Work is never « finished » from a subjective point of view, which justifies continuing.
Progressive social withdrawal
Friends, family, hobbies move to the background, then disappear. The person declines invitations, cancels outings, « because of work ». Isolation sets in without the person noticing.
Deteriorating health
Fatigue, sleep problems, irritability, physical tension, anxiety: the body’s signals are often present, but minimised or ignored. The person « holds on » until exhaustion.
The consequences of workaholism
Workaholism is not limited to « working too much ». It has concrete consequences.
On health, chronic over-investment promotes exhaustion, sleep problems, anxiety and depression. The body pays for what the mind refuses to see.
On relationships, progressive withdrawal damages bonds with loved ones. Repeated absences, irritability, physical presence without real mental presence end up wearing down couples and families.
In the long term, workaholism can favour the appearance of other addictions. To « keep going », some people turn to substances: high doses of caffeine, stimulants, alcohol to « unwind », cannabis, medicines. Work dependence creates fertile ground for other dependencies.
How to get out of it
The first step is to recognise the problem. Workaholism is often socially valued: it is called « being committed », « serious », « passionate ». This valuing can delay awareness.
Then, a few concrete benchmarks can help:
- Set boundaries: defined working hours, notifications turned off, protected non-work moments (meals, evening, weekend).
- Rediscover rest without guilt: rest is not wasted time, it is a physiological need.
- Question the function of work: does work fill a void, an anxiety, a fragile self-esteem? What work « fills » deserves a closer look.
- Get support: cognitive behavioural therapies (CBT) are useful for working on the habits, beliefs and emotions associated with over-investment.
An addiction specialist can help take stock without judgement. Addiction medicine is not only about substances: it addresses behavioural addictions, including workaholism.
It is also possible to talk to a general practitioner, a psychologist or a local addiction service (CSAPA) for a first conversation.
What is the difference between workaholism and burnout?
Burnout is an exhaustion resulting from chronic unmanaged stress at work, recognised by the WHO in ICD-11. Workaholism is an addictive behaviour: a compulsive over-investment. You can be a workaholic before burning out, or both at the same time.
How many hours a week is too much?
There is no single validated threshold. The real benchmark is the loss of freedom: the difficulty stopping, guilt at rest, continuing work despite the consequences. The number of hours alone is not enough to define an addiction.
Is workaholism a recognised disease?
It is described as a behavioural addiction by specialised structures such as the IFAC at Nantes University Hospital. It does not appear as such in international classifications, but the addictive mechanisms are documented.
Can work favour other addictions?
Yes. To « keep going », some people turn to substances (alcohol, stimulants, cannabis, medicines). Over-investment creates fertile ground for other dependencies.
Can an addiction specialist help with workaholism?
Yes. Addiction medicine addresses behavioural addictions, not only substances. An addiction specialist can help understand the function of work, reduce gradually and find a balance. To go further, you can subscribe to the Adikto 33 newsletter or request the free ebook: practical information on addictions, without judgement.
