Skip to the content
  • About Us
  • Seeking Help For Myself
  • Seeking Help For Another
  • Our Programs
  • Conditions We Treat
  • Addictions
  • Mental Health
  • Workshops
  • Self-Assessments
  • Alumni + Recovery Talk
  • Contact Us
South Pacific Private
  • Healthcare Professionals
  • Alumni + Recovery Talk
  • Blog
  • Events
  • Call 1800 063 332
  • Our History
  • Mission, Values & Inclusivity
  • Why South Pacific Private?
  • Take the Tour
  • Meet the Team
  • Safety & Quality
  • Press Clippings
blonde woman looking forward

Work Addiction

Work addiction, also known as workaholism or burnout, is a relatively new issue in the field of psychological research, but we know it can have significant impacts on individuals’ families, emotional and physical health.

This photo is for demonstration purposes only.

Page down arrow
  • Alcohol
  • Drugs
  • Prescription Drugs
  • Disordered Eating
  • Sex Addiction
  • Gambling
  • Work Addiction
  • Gaming, Social Media and Device Addiction
  • Love and Avoidance Addiction
  • Dual Diagnosis

Understanding Work Addiction

People often misunderstand work addiction as a term describing people who work long hours, but the term actually describes people who feel compelled to work, and who may experience complex feelings of guilt, shame, avoidance, anxiety and disappointment related to work. Work addiction is also used as a means to derive self-esteem and mask feelings of inadequacy, fear of intimacy and other addictions.

Nevertheless, we feel an internal drive to work — sometimes incessantly — and have trouble disengaging from our professional lives. Our bosses or co-workers might report that we struggle working as part of a team, have trouble delegating to others or are distrustful of others’ abilities and competencies.

Professional clinical intervention can be key to stopping the cycle of guilt and unhappiness that drives work addiction. In some cases, our addiction to work may be driven by the desire to avoid pain or hurtful relationship dynamics, in others, it can be a response to trauma, or part of a behavioural disorder such as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

As South Pacific Private, we make it our mission to root out and address the underlying causes of conditions like work addiction and aim to equip you with the skills and strategies to set yourself on a happier, healthier path to long-term success.

Indicators of burnout and work addiction

Addiction to work or an unhealthy relationship with work can lead to burnout, which is a response to prolonged stress within your working environment. This may leave you feeling drained, exhausted, unfulfilled and depersonalised.

The signs of burnout and work addiction may include the following:

  • You don’t necessarily enjoy your work or find it pleasurable, but feel like you should be working
  • You experience anxiety, guilt or worry when you’re not working
  • You find it hard to mentally disengage from work
  • You work beyond what is usually expected at your organisation
  • Arguments with family members and partners related to work
  • Frustration and agitation when prevented from working
  • Work has become a way of distracting yourself from other issues, problems or pain
  • You find yourself re-enacting past dynamics, or link the need to work with earlier experiences, or link it to directives from authority figures from childhood
  • Preferring to be at work than with loved ones or friends
  • Overly valuing feedback about how hard you work
  • People-pleasing your boss or co-workers

If you’re concerned you may have a problem with work addiction, you can use our self-assessment tool here to gain a better understanding of whether key indicators of addiction apply to your situation. To schedule a free, confidential, professional phone assessment, call our team seven days a week on 1800 063 332.

Your pathway to recovery

Addiction to work is rarely driven by your job or workplace itself, it’s often a result of internal anxiety, stress, trauma or clinical behavioural disorders.

At South Pacific Private, our full, multi-disciplinary team of specialists is dedicated to identifying and resolving these underlying issues, and to equipping you with skills and strategies for managing your relationship with work in the longer term.

We also understand that work addiction can have a particularly significant impact on families and partners, with clients benefiting from our dedicated Family Program which encourages understanding and helps equip partners, friends and relatives as allies in your journey to recovery.

If you’re ready to start working on developing a healthier relationship with work, we’re ready to stand with you every step of the way. Call us on 1800 063 332 or contact us here to see which of our programs are right for you.

Contact Us

WE HEAL FAMILIES

Why Choose South
Pacific Private?

With decades of experience, South Pacific Private is Australia’s leading treatment centre for addiction, trauma, depression and anxiety. Our uniquely comprehensive programs change lives, repair relationships and heal families by identifying and addressing the underlying causes laying the groundwork for sustained, long-term recovery.

Read more

WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN MORE?

Curious?
Take a Self-
Assessment

  • Please Select
    • Alcohol Addiction
    • Anxiety
    • Codependency
    • Depression
    • Disordered Eating
    • Drug and Substance Addiction
    • Gambling Addiction
    • Gaming, Social Media and Device Addiction
    • Love Addiction
    • Love Avoidance
    • Prescription Drug Addiction
    • Sex Addiction
    • Trauma
    • Work Addiction

The goal of our self-tests is not to provide you with a diagnosis for yourself or for someone you care about. Instead, they are an opportunity for you to better understand how a behaviour might be impacting upon your life or the life of your family. Use these tests to enhance your awareness of what the problem might be.

These tests should be answered honestly in order to provide accurate insight and are a chance for you to reflect upon the current situation.

Stories of Recovery

Read More

WANT TO READ ON?

Navigate To
Other Addiction Pages

Alcohol Addiction

At South Pacific Private, we know how difficult it is to take the first step and admit that alcohol has become a problem in your life. The idea of living without alcohol can feel daunting, overwhelming or even impossible.

Click here to read more >

Drug and Substance Addiction

At South Pacific Private, we recognise drug addiction as a particularly devastating and all-consuming disease which can destroy lives, fracture families and risk serious health impacts, including overdose.

Click here to read more >

Addiction to Prescription Medication

Addiction to prescription medication is a serious and rapidly growing problem in Australia and can lead to financial, relational and physical and emotional issues.

Click here to read more >

Disordered Eating

The term ‘disordered eating’ covers a vast range of behaviours which can include over-eating, under-eating – annorexia binge eating and purging – bulimia, craving food or lacking control around food and an obsession with healthy eating, known as orthorexia.

Click here to read more >

Sex Addiction

Sex addiction – sometimes described as hypersexuality, porn addiction or sexual compulsive disorder – is a very common, very real and rarely discussed disorder which can have a devastating impact on individuals, relationships and families.

Click here to read more >

Gambling

Gambling addiction, also known as compulsive gambling, can be a dangerous, destructive and overwhelming disorder, with mounting debts and relationship conflicts often leading to severe stress and isolation.

Click here to read more >

Gaming, Social Media and Device Addiction

The rise of technology has resulted in new and detrimental addictive behaviours, variously called internet addiction, screen addiction, device addiction, social media addiction, video gaming addiction or gaming disorder.

Click here to read more >

Love/Avoidance Addiction

Love Addiction and Love Avoidance describe two dysfunctional relationship patterns that some of us repeatedly find ourselves falling into, often leading to significant emotional pain, distress and unhealthy intimate relationships.

Click here to read more >

Dual Diagnosis

Dual diagnosis is a term used to describe a person who is experiencing mental health issues such as depression and anxiety alongside alcohol and drug addiction.

Click here to read more >

Let’s stay in touch,
sign up for our newsletter

Sign Up Here

South Pacific Private recognises the Gayamaygal people as the traditional owners and custodians of the land upon which we work. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and future and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

South Pacific Private is working towards Rainbow Tick Accreditation.

Quicklinks

Contact Us
P: 1800 063 332
F: 02 9466 6470
Email Us

  • About Us
  • Our Programs
  • Conditions We Treat
  • FAQs
  • Self-Assessments
  • Seeking Help For Myself
  • Seeking Help For Another
  • Healthcare Professionals
  • Media Enquiries
  • Careers
  • Volunteer
  • Student Placements
  • Events
South Pacific Private Stamp

Connect With us

South Pacific Private White Logo
Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy

© South Pacific Private

24 Beach St,

Curl Curl NSW 2096

ABN 84 003 340 912

CP

Contact Us

If you would like more information for yourself or for a loved one, our client care team is available to take your call 7 days a week.

Call 1800 063 332

Other Contact Options

Send an Email

Media Enquiries

Sign up to our newsletter

Our Address

A. 24 Beach Street
Curl Curl NSW 2096
P. 1800 063 332
F. 02 9466 6470
E. info@southpacificprivate.com.au

Connect with us