The Hidden Fear Of Slowing Down—Understanding ‘Doing’ Addiction

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Work Addiction,Doing Addiction,Restlessness

Mark Travers, Ph.D., is an American psychologist with degrees from Cornell University and the University of Colorado Boulder. He is the lead psychologist at Awake Therapy, a telehealth company that provides video and telephone psychotherapy, counseling, and coaching to individuals in over 40 countries worldwide.

If the thought of slowing down makes you feel like a cat on a hot tin roof, you’re not alone. YouFor many people, taking a break is a welcome chance to recharge and unwind. For others, the thought of slowing down can stir feelings of anxiety, fear and a sense of looming threat. This paradoxical response is especially prevalent among those grappling with “doing” addiction—a compulsive urge to stay busy to cope with underlying distress.

Over time, this pattern becomes deeply ingrained, morphing into an addiction that offers a temporary escape from discomfort and a feeling of control in an uncertain world. Slowing down, then, feels threatening because it disengages the protective shield of constant activity, exposing individuals to the raw emotions they’ve been avoiding.

However, when they attempt to slow down, suppressed emotions suddenly come rushing to the surface. The stillness gives pent-up feelings a chance to emerge, potentially intensifying distress. This sudden rush of repressed emotions can be overwhelming, catching one off guard. Without usual distractions, one may feel unprepared to confront these emotions and lack alternative coping strategies.

 

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