Isn't the addiction that you are addressing in this post usually referred to as "workaholism"? Why the new phrase "excessive striving"? Or do you think that is a separate category?

The advantage of "workaholism" over "alcoholism" or or other forms of addiction is that you actually garner accolades for your behavior, usually right up until the crash. Unfortunately, both being lauded or being scolded for one's behavior only tends to reinforce the addiction (or force it into hiding).

Any possibility of salvation appears to be predicated upon "crashing" in the case of addictive behaviors that are externally lauded or "hitting bottom" in the case of addictive behaviors that are externally scorned.