A workaholic is a person addicted to work. This addiction may be pleasurable to the victim or it may be burdensome and troubling.
Workaholism is believed by some to be a disease, akin to obsessive compulsive disorder. The problem is that workaholics believe that if they do not work, their world will collapse. Workaholics do not necessarily love their work or try to excel in their work. If a person thinks he or she is the only person capable of performing their work, he or she is most likely a workaholic. Although most workaholism is associated with a paying job, it can also be associated with people who excessively practice sports, music, art, or blogging, for example.
The term is often used inaccurately to describe an energetic person who devotes a lot of time to work despite having good relations with co-workers, taking pleasure in other non-remunerative activities, being well rested, and attending properly to family and social life.
The condition is more accurately described when it becomes recognized by the victim or by others to be detrimental to family life or social relations within or outside of work. This may be due to the victim's fatigue, poor relationships with non-addicted co-workers, or lack of time and energy devoted to family life, friends, hobbies, and other activities. Like alcoholism, it can have a detrimental effect on the spouse and children of the workaholic, even resulting in child abuse in severe cases.
Workaholism is believed by some to be a disease, akin to obsessive compulsive disorder. The problem is that workaholics believe that if they do not work, their world will collapse. Workaholics do not necessarily love their work or try to excel in their work. If a person thinks he or she is the only person capable of performing their work, he or she is most likely a workaholic. Although most workaholism is associated with a paying job, it can also be associated with people who excessively practice sports, music, art, or blogging, for example.
The term is often used inaccurately to describe an energetic person who devotes a lot of time to work despite having good relations with co-workers, taking pleasure in other non-remunerative activities, being well rested, and attending properly to family and social life.
The condition is more accurately described when it becomes recognized by the victim or by others to be detrimental to family life or social relations within or outside of work. This may be due to the victim's fatigue, poor relationships with non-addicted co-workers, or lack of time and energy devoted to family life, friends, hobbies, and other activities. Like alcoholism, it can have a detrimental effect on the spouse and children of the workaholic, even resulting in child abuse in severe cases.
For Many Workoholics, the Jokes Aren't Funny
Reuters has a story out today about the dangers of compulsive working. It may sound ridiculous, and lots of people might envy their drive, but for those Americans who are workoholics, the problem is very real and has dramatically effected their lives.
One sufferer, quoted in the Reuters story, explains the dilemma of dealing with his problem:
"It's been called the addiction that society applauds," said Mike, a physician and member of the group known as WA.
"People brag about it and say, 'I'm a workaholic,'" he said. "But workaholics burn out and then you've lost them or they become very dysfunctional and bitter and cynical in the organisation and corrosive."
As with other addictions or compulsive behaviors, there are underlying causes, and to truly treat the compulsion, one must address those underlying causes. In the case of workoholics, sometimes the signs of damaging behavior are not as clear. Friends, co-workers and bosses need to be on the watch to make sure that someone they know is working themselves into the ground.
Reuters has a story out today about the dangers of compulsive working. It may sound ridiculous, and lots of people might envy their drive, but for those Americans who are workoholics, the problem is very real and has dramatically effected their lives.
One sufferer, quoted in the Reuters story, explains the dilemma of dealing with his problem:
"It's been called the addiction that society applauds," said Mike, a physician and member of the group known as WA.
"People brag about it and say, 'I'm a workaholic,'" he said. "But workaholics burn out and then you've lost them or they become very dysfunctional and bitter and cynical in the organisation and corrosive."
As with other addictions or compulsive behaviors, there are underlying causes, and to truly treat the compulsion, one must address those underlying causes. In the case of workoholics, sometimes the signs of damaging behavior are not as clear. Friends, co-workers and bosses need to be on the watch to make sure that someone they know is working themselves into the ground.
Coming up ..the effects of being a workaholic...stay tuned
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