Why Workaholism Isn't OK -- and What You Should Do About It

With the high profile suicides of chef and world traveler Anthony Bourdain and fashion designer Kate Spade, many people are reassessing their lives and looking around them to gauge whether someone is struggling and needs help.

One area that needs consideration is the person who becomes addicted to work. While we all may at times may laughingly call ourselves a workaholic, it is a real addiction that needs treatment.

Psychologists say part of the problem with getting help for workaholics is that workaholism is often seen as a positive trait in society, even though it can be hurtful to the person suffering from it and those around him or her. You may brush off the concern about a colleague who works a lot, believing that this person just loves his or her job a lot. Or, you may think all those hours of working is just this person's way of climbing the corporate ladder.

However, workaholism is an addiction and needs treatment or it will wreak havoc on that person and those around him or her.

Experts say that there are several signs to spot a workaholic:

• They go it alone. Workaholics need to control every situation and often are not good communicators. They don't embrace teamwork.
• They know best. Even if other options seem  viable, it's their way or no way.
• They're stressed. Workaholics are often irritable, seem resentment and are impatient. This stress is a often a result of the demands the person places on himself or herself. 

"Workaholics are out of balance," says Bryan E. Robinson, author of Chained to the Desk: A Guidebook for Workaholics, Their Partners and Children, and the Clinicians Who Treat Them. "They don't have many friends. They don't take care of themselves. They don't have any hobbies outside of the office. A hard worker will be at his desk, thinking about the ski slopes. A workaholic will be on the ski slopes thinking about his desk."

While we all may be saddened to learn that famous people have suffered from addiction problems or depression, let's not forget that it's the person in the cubicle next to us who also needs our concern. Check our Workaholics Anonymous for more information.