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ONE IN THE SAME Due to the many similarities and very few differences, an alcoholic and a workaholic can be considered as being one in the same. According to the medical dictionary a workaholic is defined as “one who has a compulsive and unrelenting need to work” (The American Heritage Stedman’s Medical Dictionary). Although some people tend to confuse a hard worker for a workaholic, some common characteristics that can distinguish the two are that workaholics are often described as intense, impatient, energetic, competitive, and driven to perfection (Robinson 65). They often blur the line between business and pleasure, and prefer work to leisure regardless of the time or place. As a consequence, it is not uncommon for workaholics to suffer from an assortment of health problems and illnesses. Workaholics have a habit of resisting collaborating in the workplace and will likely have trouble delegating tasks, and find it difficult to take vacations or breaks (Spence and Robbins 162). Also, because they have a habit of pushing others as hard as they do themselves, other people tend to find them hard to get along with. An Alcoholic is defined as “a person who drinks alcohol substances habitually and to excess” or “a person addicted to alcoholic drinks” (The American Heritage Stedman’s medical dictionary). Usually, but not all the time, an alcoholic will display characteristics such as low self-esteem, anxiety/fear, feelings of guilt, shame and self pity. Alcoholics can be regarded as being impulsive, easily frustrated, and have very low tolerance for negative feedback. An alcoholic also tends to blame others for their problems and they often feel a sense of injustice as if everyone is against them. Although their definitions differ, being an alcoholic or a workaholic can affect ones health as well as ones family. Being a workaholic “can affect a family as a whole as well as on an individual level, between specific family members.” (Shifron and Reysen 140).When

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