Workaholism: Why Work-as-Irritant Exhausts the Brain

Workaholism rarely looks like an illness — it looks like a virtue. But seen through the lens of the method, the picture changes: the issue isn't the number of hours, but the biochemical trace work leaves in the nervous system. This angle answers the question "why it happens" — what exactly breaks inside when a person can't stop.

Work as an Irritant

In the specific case of workaholism, work stops being mere activity — it becomes a constant irritant. This irritant acts on your neurons and produces a certain level of catecholamines. The doctor draws attention to the fact that this level can be comparable to what is seen in severe, genetically determined disorders. The only difference is the source — there the pathology itself "throws out" the excess, while here it is created by the way of life.

"This irritant produces the same level of catecholamines as in schizophrenia."

The Neuron Doesn't Care Where the Excess Comes From

A key idea of the method: the neuron is indifferent to the origin of the overload. Genetics, coffee, endless work — to the cell it's all the same. Only the fact of excess matters. And under chronic excess, neurons begin to die prematurely. So the habit of "living for work" is not a neutral lifestyle choice but a constant strain on nervous tissue.

The Chain of Exhaustion

The doctor then unfolds the logic of consequences. If a person is constantly in a state of overstrain, an excess of catecholamines builds up, and after a while the cortisol system also overstrains, leaving its normal functional state. This places an excessive burden on the immune system.

At first the immune system is "at its peak" — it fights. But this system isn't eternal either: under prolonged strain, reactive processes begin — inflammation, problems with various organs. And when the defense finally breaks down, the gravest conditions come to the fore. In the doctor's view, behind many illnesses there always stands some form of bodily exhaustion.

"Behind cancer there will always stand some form of exhaustion of the body."

The Soul Burns Out First

Workaholism also has a recognizable psychic picture. It's a classic of organic depression: nothing captures the person anymore, everything seems the same. The doctor compares it to "Groundhog Day" — a state where it feels as if life is over and nothing interesting will ever happen again. Irritability and aggression here are nonspecific, but they are always a sign of an unhealthy psyche.

Where to Begin Recovery

The method offers nothing exotic. If you genuinely want to improve your condition, start with very simple things — with basic needs. First we rebuild the foundation, and only then deal with the obsessive beliefs in the head.

Practice

1. Sleep and rest — relieve the acute sleep deficit.
2. Fix nutrition — remove the sugar excess, restore vitamins.
3. Reduce the irritant load — see that work has become a constant source of overload.
4. Recognize the beliefs — notice the "delusional" automatic thoughts like "life is over, nothing more will happen."
5. Engage critical thinking — calmly take those beliefs apart one by one.