Even when unthinkable things were happening to me, my first instinct was to work. Am I addicted?

M

MetaOrbit

Journalist reflects on her tendency to work through difficult times, wondering if she's a "workaholic". Nine years ago, while pregnant with her baby, she experienced severe abdominal pain and was eventually diagnosed with appendicitis. Despite being told not to work, she recorded an 11-minute documentary that still haunts her.

Her experience sparked an interest in the concept of "workaholism", a term that had been jarring for her when she first heard it. Research suggests that around 10% of Americans are thought to be work addicts, and that the consequences can be serious, including anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and heart disease.

In contrast, Mark Griffiths, an emeritus professor at Nottingham Trent University, describes his own relationship with work as a "life-affirming passion". He believes that conflict is key to addiction, but notes that abuse does not necessarily mean addiction.

Griffiths' story highlights the distinction between healthy enthusiasm for work and addiction. While he uses work to modify his mood, he acknowledges that this can be problematic if it takes priority over family and friends.

Journalist's personal reflection

The journalist reflects on her own tendency to work through difficult times, wondering if she's a "workaholic". She admits to using work as a way to escape reality during the pandemic and after losing her babies. However, unlike Griffiths, she realizes that this behavior has been harmful and is now trying to find a balance between her passion for work and living in the present.

The article concludes with the journalist's acknowledgment that she may not be able to watch the documentary she made in Norway, but she is no longer horrified at herself for making it. This marks a shift towards self-acceptance and recognition of her own behavior as a coping mechanism rather than an addiction.

Key takeaways:

* Workaholism can have serious consequences, including anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and heart disease.
* Healthy enthusiasm for work can be distinguished from addiction.
* Abuse does not necessarily mean addiction.
* Recognizing one's behavior and making changes can lead to self-acceptance and a healthier relationship with work.

Questions:

* What are the signs of workaholism?
* How can you distinguish between healthy enthusiasm for work and addiction?
* What steps can you take to address your own work habits if you recognize them as problematic?
 
I'm still trying to wrap my head around this documentary thing... like, she's a journalist and she just goes into labor and then records an 11-minute doc during her recovery? That's some next level dedication... or is it? 🤯 It got me thinking, though - we all have our ways of dealing with stress and anxiety. I know I've been guilty of overworking myself when I'm feeling overwhelmed. But what's the difference between being passionate about your job and being a workaholic? For me, it's about recognizing when my passion is taking over my life. Like, if I'm using work as a way to avoid dealing with my emotions or relationships... that's not healthy. But if I'm just trying to meet a deadline or learn something new... that's different. It's all about finding that balance and being kind to yourself. 💼
 
I've been thinking about this article and I'm kinda worried about myself too... 🤔 I mean, I love my job and all, but sometimes it feels like I'm putting in way too much time and energy into it. Like, when life gets tough, I just wanna dive headfirst into work to distract myself from whatever's going on. But that doesn't feel right anymore 😐.

I think what really got me is the idea that it's okay to take a step back and prioritize my own well-being. For so long, I was trying to be this super productive machine, but now I'm realizing that taking care of myself is just as important as getting stuff done 🌱. It's funny, because when I made that documentary nine years ago, it was like a ticking time bomb – I'm surprised I didn't blow up from stress 😂.

Anyway, I think it's awesome that the journalist in this article is taking steps to reevaluate her habits and find a healthier balance. And Mark Griffiths' story is like, really helpful in illustrating the difference between healthy enthusiasm for work and addiction. 👍
 
I mean, think about it... we're constantly being pushed to be more productive, to achieve more, to push through the hard times. And what's wrong with that? Is it really a bad thing to use our passion for work as a way to cope with difficult emotions? Or is it just a sign of us not knowing how to deal with our feelings in a healthier way?

I'm reminded of the concept of "ikigai" - finding purpose and fulfillment in life. Maybe our work is that purpose, maybe it's what makes us feel most alive. But at what cost? The journalist's experience shows us that even when we're using our passion for work to cope with pain, it can still be damaging to ourselves.

So I wonder, what's the difference between finding meaning in our work and getting lost in it? Can we find a balance where we use our passion to enrich our lives, rather than controlling them?
 
I think this journalist's story is super relatable, but also kinda scary 🤯. I mean, who hasn't felt the urge to just keep going and getting stuff done even when they're hurting or stressed? But it's one thing to be driven by a passion for your work and another thing entirely to let that become an all-consuming force in your life 😬. For me, it's all about finding that balance between being productive and taking care of myself - like, yes, I need to get this project done, but I also need to take a break and put my feet up 🛋️. And honestly, I think recognizing when we're crossing that line from enthusiasm to addiction is the first step to making a change 💪.
 
🤔 I'm so down with this journalist's reflection. She's finally acknowledging that her constant need to work during tough times was like, a major problem 🙅‍♀️. I mean, she even made a documentary while pregnant and in pain... what?! That's just not okay, you know? 🤯

But seriously, it's awesome that she's recognizing the signs of workaholism and is trying to find balance. Like, we all need a little me-time and self-care, right? 💆‍♀️ It's also great that Mark Griffiths' story is being shared too - his perspective on healthy enthusiasm vs addiction is so important.

I think it's time for us all to take a step back and assess our own work habits 🕰️. Are we using work as an escape from reality, or are we truly passionate about what we do? 💼 Let's make some changes and prioritize our well-being, just like this journalist is trying to do 🙏.
 
omg dont even get me started on this docu 🤯 like i can relate to the journalist's experience being a total slave to her job especially during pandemic times when she was trying to cope with losing babies 🤰‍♀️. but the thing is, our society pressures us so much to be constantly productive and performant that it becomes hard to distinguish between passion and obsession 😬. for me, i think its all about finding that balance where u can still pursue ur dreams but also take care of ur mental health 🧘‍♀️. mark griffiths' story is like, a totally different vibe from the journalist's, but it shows us that work isnt always a bad thing if we approach it with self-awareness 💡. anyway, i think its cool that the journalist is taking steps to address her behavior and find self-acceptance 🙏.
 
🤔 been there, done that too. i used to work all the time, even when my body was screaming at me to stop. it wasn't until i lost someone close to me that i realized i had a choice. now i prioritize rest and self-care, but i still have bad days. maybe that's just part of being human? 🤷‍♀️
 
🤔 So like I'm reading this article about this journalist who's all like "am I a workaholic?" and it just hits me that we're all guilty of overworking in some way. Like I know I am 😅. But seriously, the thing that stands out to me is how our brains can be wired to use work as a coping mechanism. It's not always about being addicted to work, but more about using it as a way to escape or deal with emotions.

I also love how Mark Griffiths' story highlights the difference between healthy enthusiasm for work and addiction. I mean, we've all had those days where we're just so passionate about our job that it feels like it's taking over our lives. But when does that passion turn into a problem? 🤷‍♀️

For me, recognizing my own behavior is key. Like, being more mindful of when I'm working and when I need to take a break. And also being kinder to myself when I do make mistakes or miss out on stuff because I've been overworking. 💆‍♀️
 
🤔 I feel like this article is hitting close to home. The journalist's experience with making a documentary during a really tough time, when she was supposed to be resting, is crazy to me. It's like, we've all been there where work just takes over and you can't seem to stop. 🕒️ For me, I'm guilty of using diagrams and ASCII art as a way to express myself and process my thoughts - it's like my own personal therapy session. 🎨💻 But the thing is, sometimes I get so caught up in creating these little visual stories that I forget to take care of myself too. 🤯 So yeah, recognizing the signs of workaholism and making changes is super important. Like, what are those signs again? 😅 Is it when you're constantly working and can't seem to stop, or when you're neglecting your relationships and health? 🤝 Anyway, I think the article is really good at highlighting the difference between healthy enthusiasm for work and addiction. It's not always easy to tell, but recognizing those signs is key. 💡
 
so i've been thinking about this whole workaholism thing... like, i totally get why people would want to keep going when things get tough. but for me personally, its all about finding that balance between crushing my deadlines and actually living life 🕒💻. its not just about putting in the hours, its about taking care of yourself too. thats why im loving the distinction made by mark griffiths between "healthy enthusiasm" and actual addiction - because i definitely identify with being a bit of a workaholic, especially during those tough times 💔. but now im trying to be more mindful of when im crossing that line into burnout mode 🚨...anyway, i think its all about self-awareness and recognizing your own behavior, you know? 🤯
 
Ugh, I feel like this is so relatable... I was always that student who stayed after school to finish her homework even when she didn't have any the next day lol 🤣. But seriously, it's scary how much we can get caught up in work and forget about our own well-being. I remember when I was trying to finish my exams, I would stay up all night thinking about a problem and just got so anxious... now I'm like "chill, take a break, do something you enjoy" 🤩. And yeah, it's cool that the journalist is recognizing her behavior as a coping mechanism rather than an addiction, it takes courage to admit when we need help 😌.
 
I'm surprised they're even making a big deal about this. Like, who hasn't worked through a tough time or two? It's not like she was addicted or anything. I mean, the fact that she made a documentary while pregnant with her baby is actually kind of impressive, and it's not like it's a reflection on her job as a journalist. And what's with the stats about 10% of Americans being work addicts? That just sounds like some made-up number to me.

And don't even get me started on Mark Griffiths saying that conflict is key to addiction... yeah right. It's just an excuse for people who are too lazy to take responsibility for their own lives. I mean, if you're going to use work as a way to modify your mood, that's still pretty messed up, no matter how you spin it.

I'm not sure what the takeaway is supposed to be here... that working hard can have serious consequences? Who didn't know that already? And recognizing your own behavior and making changes is just good life advice or whatever. I guess if she's finally starting to see her own work habits as a problem, more power to her, I suppose 🤷‍♀️
 
🤔 I feel like this journalist's story is super relatable, especially with all the pandemic drama happening. I've been guilty of overworking during that time too 🕒️. It's crazy how one thing can become an addiction, even when we don't realize it's becoming a problem. The difference between someone who loves their job and someone who's addicted to work is like night and day - for the former, it's about passion and purpose, while for the latter, it's about escaping reality.

🌞 For me, recognizing my own behavior was a huge step towards change. I've started setting boundaries with my work and prioritizing self-care (yes, that means taking naps in the afternoon 🛋️). It's not always easy, but it's worth it to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

🤝 Mark Griffiths' perspective on work as a "life-affirming passion" makes total sense to me. As long as it's not at the expense of our relationships and well-being, I think there's nothing wrong with loving what we do 🌈. But it's all about finding that balance and being mindful of when we're crossing over into workaholism territory. 💡
 
I'm totally with this journalist on her journey to self-acceptance 🙌. I mean, we've all been there where work just becomes a way to escape reality, right? 😩 Like during the pandemic, it was so hard not to get sucked into work 24/7, but you're right, that's not healthy 🤯. The distinction between passion for work and addiction is super important #MentalHealthMatters. And let's be real, taking a break from those documentaries can be tough, but maybe just watching them again with fresh eyes could help her process her emotions 💡. It's all about finding that balance and being kind to yourself 😊.
 
I feel like this journalist's story is so relatable 🤔. I've been there too, where I just wanna keep working through all the problems in my life instead of taking a step back and dealing with them head-on. Like, I remember during my college days, I was literally pulling all-nighters to finish assignments while also trying to study for exams... it was like I thought if I just worked more, everything would magically get better 🤷‍♀️. But looking back, that's not how it works at all.

It's interesting that the professor mentioned conflict being key to addiction, though 💡. It makes me think about how our work habits can be influenced by external factors like stress or anxiety. Maybe we're more likely to become workaholics when life is throwing us curveballs 🌪️.

Anyway, I love how the journalist is taking responsibility for her actions and trying to find a healthier balance in her life 🙏. It's all about recognizing our patterns and making conscious changes to create a better relationship with work... and ourselves 👍.
 
I gotta say, I'm all about that work-life balance life 🕒️. The idea that some people are just naturally workaholics and it's a thing is kinda worrying, you know? Like, what if we're already at a 10% risk of having anxiety or depression because of our jobs? That's crazy 😬.

I also feel for this journalist who's trying to figure out her own habits. It's not like she's being selfish or anything – it's just that she's learned to cope with hard times by working through them. And I get it, especially during the pandemic when isolation was real 🤯.

But what I'm really wondering is why we need a term for this stuff? Can't we just acknowledge that some people are overworked and help 'em find better ways to deal with stress? Maybe it's not as simple as just "finding a balance" – maybe there needs to be actual support systems in place for these folks 💡.

Mark Griffiths' take on workaholism vs. enthusiasm for work is interesting, though. I think that's where we need more research and conversation around what actually constitutes addiction versus passion 🤔.
 
I think its pretty wild how one thing that's supposed to be a passion or something that makes us happy, like our jobs, can end up being super toxic. like the journalist in this article she was literally pregnant and had a life-threatening condition but she still went ahead and made a documentary on it? and then she's wondering if shes a workaholic 🤯 i mean im not saying thats necessarily a bad thing, its just that her behavior had some serious consequences for her health and wellbeing. and its interesting to hear the difference in perspective between this journalist and mark griffiths who says his love of work is life-affirming but also acknowledges that it can take priority over other things when its not balanced properly 💯
 
I remember when I was in college, people thought working all night to finish a project was just part of being dedicated. Now, I'm not saying it's all bad, but I think it's cool that this journalist is acknowledging her habit of using work as an escape mechanism. For me, though, taking breaks and doing stuff outside of work helps me recharge. Like, if I'm feeling stressed, I'll watch a funny vid on YouTube or play some video games instead of just binge-watching Netflix alone 🤯. I get that everyone's different, but I think recognizing when you're overdoing it is key. Maybe this journalist's trying to find that balance? 🙏
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top