Feel Free Read When the work becomes to much - and ends in a burnout!: Strategies against stress, work addiction and burnout RTF
When talking about addiction, most people think of substance-bound substances of pharmaceutical or natural origin such as drugs, alcohol, nicotine etc. However, the excessive turning of people to certain narcotic substances does not have to be limited to the intake of such substances alone. It can also manifest itself in socially accepted behaviour that deviates from the norm, such as repeated and compulsive activities in the areas of playing, eating or even working.The similarities between substance-bound and non-substance-bound forms of addiction are found in the underlying causes of the behaviour. They are expressions of loss. What is lost is the ability to cope with life in a situation between tension and relaxation, between work, love and leisure time and to create harmony between structured and unstructured, not purpose- and goal-bound activities and to find sufficient satisfaction and fulfilment.Everyday life is experienced as existential boredom, too empty or too stressful and conflictive, so that "escapes" into relieving or even only temporarily distracting activities become a survival strategy. Instead of conflict resolution, the strategy of avoidance and evasion is chosen. On the background of such motives, an addiction often arises - an escape, an evasion into bearable or for a few minutes even happy moments, in which recognition and confirmation for one's own actions is found.The work addiction is probably one of the most discussed forms of substance-unrelated addiction in recent years. This publication explains why it is sensible and permissible to also understand work as a possible form of addictive behaviour. The author describes the psychodynamic conditions under which the work becomes a drug, ultimately manifests itself as an addiction and can end in burnout. The author also describes the relevant aspects of corporate culture and developments in work organisation which have an addictive effect and can lead to an "organiztional burnout". It also outlines the possibilities for prevention and intervention in the case of work addiction at individual, organisational and social levels. Based on a self-test and case studies, the author presents the topic in exemplary fashion. Theoretical considerations explain the dynamics of addiction development.
