Under the supervision of the Dean of the College of Pharmacy, Professor Dr. Sarmed H. Kathem Alkhateeb, the University Psychological Counseling Unit at the University of Baghdad/College of Pharmacy, held an in-person workshop entitled “Behavioral Addiction and Emotional Attachment”, delivered by Lecturer Dr. Wurood Shihab Ahmed, a faculty member at the Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department.
The workshop aimed to raise awareness among students about the concept of behavioral addiction and emotional attachment, while highlighting their associated risks and impact on mental health, and explaining scientific methods for managing both.
The workshop included several topics, including defining the concept of behavioral addiction and explaining how it develops gradually without the individual realizing its seriousness. Also, it addressed the concept of emotional attachment and clarified the differences between healthy emotional attachment, which is based on balance and mutual respect, and unhealthy attachment, characterized by dependency and excessive preoccupation with the other person. Furthermore, the workshop highlighted the close relationship between behavioral addiction and emotional attachment, and how each can reinforce or intensify the other, potentially leading to psychological or behavioral disorders if not addressed early. In addition, the workshop discussed coping and treatment methods that can be followed, whether through raising individual awareness and regulating personal behavior, or by seeking professional help in cases that exceed self-control, while emphasizing the importance of developing alternative plans and adopting effective strategies to reduce negative behaviors and restore psychological balance.
The workshop concluded that behavioral addiction and emotional attachment are common psychological challenges among young people, and that raising awareness and acquiring emotional and behavioral regulation skills can contribute significantly to improving the quality of psychological and social life.
