same logic applies to using drugs to self-soothe. if you're high all the time, you have no time to realistically engage with the material realities of your socio-emotional life and health. instead of taking the time to reflect on past actions and develop insight on how you're relating with others or living your life, you just work instead. and, in the meantime, dissonance compounds as background radiation

eventually that just leads to an even bigger crashout, burnout, break. Sinclair Lewis parodied this as early as 1922 in Babbitt [0], depicting a man who is economically satisfied and fits perfectly the mold of the white picket life and yet is devoid of meaning and satisfaction. he then spends his years in the wilderness crashing out before stumbling back into conformity because he knows nothing else

you can find meaning outside of work in so many ways. joining a small organizing group, help run mutual aid efforts, even dipping a toe into civic engagement. disentangle achieving goals that signify success from living your values and you'll be on your way to a better regulated life [1]

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babbitt_(novel)

[1] https://psychwire.com/free-resources/expert-insights/resourc...