8
‘‘Being ‘Strong’’’
Workaholism, Burnout, and Coping
Inevitably, as their illness progressed, many of these doctors had to con-
sider the possibility of giving up their work, either partially or fully, which
forced them to evaluate the many meanings of their careers. For these
physicians, work provided structure, gratification, and income, all of which
illness now threatened. These doctors revealed how deeply ingrained pro-
fessionalism remained. They struggled with problems that all physicians—
and professionals in other fields—will one day face.
Workaholism: The Meanings of Work
Work had taken on enormously important personal significance for these
doctors. Many spontaneously described themselves as ‘‘workaholics’’ for
a variety of reasons, and with both good and bad effects. On the one
hand, workaholism resulted from dedication to the profession and to the
practice of medicine. Yet it provided, too, benefits in their personal lives,
permitting them to avoid issues such as forming or maintaining rela-
tionships, or confronting their own diagnoses. Magical beliefs about work
also often molded views of jobs, both before and after diagnosis.
External factors promoted workaholism: implicitly, the profession of
medicine itself expected such dedication. Kurt explained, ‘‘I feared that
if I