Episode Description
Work addiction, burnout, anxiety, and the inability to switch off are challenges many high-performing professionals quietly struggle with. But what if the problem is not simply working too much, but using work as a way to avoid what is happening beneath the surface?
In this episode of Living A Life In Balance, Obi Unaka, Addiction Therapist and Relapse Prevention Specialist, joins Abdullah Boulad, Founder and CEO of THE BALANCE Rehab Clinic, for an insightful conversation about work addiction, executive burnout, emotional regulation, recovery, and the hidden costs of high achievement.
Drawing from his own personal experience, Obi shares how a successful career in finance eventually led him to recognize that work had become more than a profession; it had become an addiction. After losing important relationships, experiencing severe stress-related symptoms, and struggling to disconnect from work, he began a journey of recovery that ultimately led him into the field of psychotherapy and addiction treatment.
Together, they discuss:
• How work can become a behavioural addiction similar to gambling or substance use
• The warning signs of executive stress, burnout, and emotional exhaustion
• Why many high performers struggle to switch off and find balance outside of work
• The connection between purpose, identity, achievement, and self-worth
• Cultural perspectives on mental health, addiction, and emotional well-being across different societies
• The importance of family, community, and support systems in long-term recovery
This is a thoughtful and honest conversation about success, resilience, mental health, and the often-overlooked challenges faced by ambitious individuals. It explores what happens when achievement comes at the expense of wellbeing, and why finding balance requires more than simply working less.
About Obi Unaka:
Obi is an Addiction Therapist, Psychotherapist, and Relapse Prevention Specialist with decades of experience working in the field of mental health and addiction treatment. After leaving a successful career in finance due to his own struggles with work addiction, he retrained as a therapist and has since dedicated his career to helping individuals overcome addiction, burnout, and behavioural health challenges.
00:00:00 - From Work Addiction to Addiction Therapist: Obi Wan's Journey from Finance Burnout to Recovery
00:03:29 - What Is Work Addiction? Signs, Symptoms, and When Hard Work Becomes Unhealthy
00:05:32 - The Psychology of Work Addiction: Why High Achievers Struggle to Switch Off
00:06:58 - Burnout Warning Signs: How Therapy Helped Identify a Destructive Work Pattern
00:08:59 - Finding Purpose After Burnout: Transitioning from Finance to Mental Health
00:10:38 - High-Pressure Careers, Executive Stress, and the Risk of Work Addiction
00:12:02 - Executive Burnout, Substance Use, and Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms in High Performers
00:14:22 - What Causes Burnout? Perfectionism, Internal Pressure, and Emotional Exhaustion
00:16:21 - The Biopsychosocial Model: Balancing Mental Health, Relationships, Purpose, and Wellbeing
00:18:47 - Burnout Red Flags: Overworking, Digital Addiction, Control, and Inability to Delegate
00:22:04 - Technology Addiction, Constant Connectivity, and the Loss of Human Connection
00:23:43 - Mental Health Across Cultures: Comparing Nigeria, the UK, and India
00:26:01 - Mental Health Stigma in India: Family Expectations, Psychiatry, and Cultural Beliefs
00:34:55 - Family Support, Addiction Recovery, and Preventing Relapse Through Community
00:37:52 - What the Western World Can Learn About Community, Connection, and Mental Wellbeing
00:44:01 - Cultural Differences in Therapy: Why Mental Health Treatment Is Not One-Size-Fits-All
00:47:17 - How Therapists Avoid Burnout: Self-Care, Boundaries, Delegation, and Work-Life Balance
Follow Abdullah Boulad:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdullahboulad/
https://www.instagram.com/abdullahboulad/
Follow Obi:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/obi-unaka-4715141b/
You can order Abdullah’s books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BC9S5TCF?ccs_id=c64f2588-7eb1-4592-b4d1-647a0f379b51
Follow THE BALANCE Rehab Clinic:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebalancerehabclinic/
https://www.instagram.com/thebalancerehabclinic/
#LivingALifeInBalance #WorkAddiction #Burnout #Stress #Sleep #Support #Wellbeing #IntegrativeMedicine #MentalHealth #Podcast