Work addiction (or workaholism) is a mental health condition that affects a person’s ability to set healthy boundaries around their work schedules. Just like other addictions, the behaviours of work addicts are often rigid, stem from emotional pain, and cause great distress to the individual and those around them.
While the work addict spends almost all of their time at work, typically any success does not result in pleasure or a reduction in the time and energy they spend on work. The work addict just keeps right on working and avoiding other activities. While on vacation, they are preoccupied with work and are unable to relax and enjoy anything but work.
Work addiction often originates from a compulsive need to achieve status and success or to escape emotional stress.