When the Washington Post ran an article recently that stress in the workplace doubles the risk of a second heart attack for someone who’s already had one, it reminded me of the truth that people with stress and urgency addictions create many of their own problems.

Stress and urgency addictions? Yes. While some workplaces are inherently stressful, a certain number of people have an actual addiction to it. It was a strange concept when it was first introduced to me by my personal coach about 18 years ago, but the more I thought about it, the more it rang true.

What are some of the factors involved? Let’s take a look:

- Urgency:

the state of being urgent
an earnest and insistent necessity
pressing importance requiring speedy action

- Procrastination:

the tendency to avoid accomplishing tasks for as long as possible

- Stress:

tension
in psychology, it’s a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense
a difficulty that causes worry or emotional tension

- Addiction:

an uncontrollable craving or seeking
reliance on a substance or an activity that creates a euphoric effect

For many of those who seek (and prefer) an adrenaline-packed frenzy, the process works like this:

1. a challenge (and sometimes procrastination) brings the possibility of ‘losing,’

2. most adrenaline / stress / urgency addicts have strong desire to ‘win’

3. a pressing deadline or seemingly insurmountable task—stressful to most people—provides the opportunity to “win” over something. 

Accordingly, those addicted to stress and/or urgency are often bored if no challenge or deadline is before them. They’ll even CREATE stress and urgency just so they have something over which they can win!

Check back soon – I’m going to post more on the specifics of urgency as an addiction.

Also — Take the Urgency Addiction quiz to find out how you score

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Filed in Work, Motivation, Management, Workplace, Corporate Culture, Coaching