Difference Between Alcoholic and Workaholic (With Table)

The fundamental distinction between the terms alcoholic and workaholic is that the workaholic is not dependent on alcohol. While alcoholism causes harm to the individual, his or her family, and society, being a workaholic does not necessarily cause damage to anything other than the person’s free time. However, the meanings of both terms may overlap in some cases.

Summary

Alcoholic vs Workaholic

The main difference between the phrases alcoholic and workaholic is that an alcoholic is a person who cannot stop consuming substantial amounts of alcohol. A workaholic, on the other hand, is someone who enjoys working so much that they overdo it.

Difference Between Alcoholic and Workaholic

The term was once used to refer to people who were addicted to alcohol, but now it is used for anyone who has an unhealthy relationship with drinking. Someone may abuse alcohol without being addicted to it and vice versa. Alcohol is a legal substance that can be purchased by anyone over the age of 21.

According to a PsycholoGenie post, workaholics are said to have an addiction to work and they prioritize their work over everything else. Workaholism is a good thing at times, but it can be bad if you do not know when to stop. This article will highlight the negative effects of being a workaholic on your life, health and relationship.

Comparison Table Between Alcoholic and Workaholic

Parameters of Comparison	Alcoholic	Workaholic
Interpretation	An alcoholic is someone who cannot stop consuming huge amounts of alcohol.	A workaholic is someone who enjoys working and goes above and beyond the call of duty.
Created by	Magnus Huss created the phrase “alcoholic.”	Wayne Oates created the term “workaholic.”
Created in	In 1849, the term “alcoholic” was created.	In 1971, the term “workaholic” was created.
Influence of genes	Significant influence	It has yet to be stated.
Prognosis	Poor	Better than alcoholic

What is Alcoholic?

Alcoholic, often known as alcohol use disorder, is a problem in which a person has a strong urge or physical need to use alcohol despite the fact that it negatively affects their lives.

Alcoholism includes a wide range of behaviors from drinking too much to frequently drinking more than intended over long periods of time.

People who are alcoholics may not drink every day or even every week. They may drink only on weekends, or occasionally with friends or family members. But when they do drink, they consume large quantities of alcohol over short periods of time.

Alcoholism may also involve binge drinking or heavy drinking in which a person consumes large amounts of alcohol in one sitting. Binge drinking leads to intoxication, but it does not necessarily mean that the person is an alcoholic.

Signs and symptoms of alcoholism can vary significantly between people. Some people who abuse alcohol may show signs of obvious intoxication when they drink, while others may be able to hide their alcohol use. In addition, some common signs and symptoms of alcoholism include:

Craving: A strong need, or urge, to drink

Loss of control: Not being able to stop drinking once drinking has begun

Physical dependence: Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shaking.

What is Workaholic?

When someone says that you are a workaholic, they are alluding to the fact that you spend the bulk of your time working and find it difficult to take time off to do other things. If you are a workaholic, you may neglect health, family, friends and other important people in your life.

Here are some of the signs you might be a workaholic:

You always think about work even when you’re not at work. You feel guilty if you’re not working. You feel anxious, depressed and irritable if you don’t work.

You work when other people are taking breaks or vacations. You hide how much you really work from others. You have trouble delegating because no one can do things right but you. You keep telling yourself that once this project is over, you will take it easy and take a break, but once it’s over, something else comes up that needs to be done at once. Your personal relationships suffer because of your job.

You always put your job first and neglect your health and well-being because of it. Your self-esteem is based on how productive or successful you are at work rather than anything else.

You have difficulty saying no when asked to do something else for or with someone.

Main Differences Between Alcoholic and Workaholic

If a man drinks more than 15 times per week and a woman drinks more than 12 times per week, he is more likely to become an alcoholic. A person who is addicted to work and tries to psychologically disengage from it might become a workaholic.
The terms alcoholic and workaholic were coined by Magnus Huss and Wayne Oates, respectively.
Detoxification, rehabilitation, and maintenance are the three stages of alcoholism treatment. Workaholics, on the other hand, may be treated using a variety of psychotherapy techniques, including cognitive therapy.
The word alcoholic was first in 1849, whereas the phrase workaholic was coined in 1971.
Abusing others, binge drinking, lying, and worry are some of the behavioural changes seen in alcoholics. Workaholics, on the other side, exhibit rage outbursts, seclusion from social life, and working long hours.

Conclusion

A person who is alcoholic clearly has an abusive problem with alcohol. Although he or she may be able to function at work, this individual drinks in excess or at inappropriate times. The problems associated with alcoholism are well known, from health issues to legal troubles to destruction of relationships.

A workaholic, on the other hand, is simply someone whose commitment to his or her career keeps him or her working long hours. There are many benefits to being a workaholic: advancement opportunities, financial security, and personal satisfaction are just a few of them.