Behind every addiction lies pain: How to reclaim authorship of your own life

On April 21, 2026, lecturers from the Department of Psychology at the Faculty of Postgraduate Education and Management (PPOM), Associate Professor Natalia Serdyuk and Senior Lecturer Viktoriia Fedoryk, conducted a university-wide lecture titled «Addiction and Its Faces: Tools for Psychological Support». The event was held in a modern format that emphasized the synergy between theory and practice.

The lecture was structured as a comprehensive journey, ranging from understanding the neurophysiological mechanisms of addiction to mastering concrete self-help techniques. The phenomenon of addiction was presented not as a lack of willpower, but as a complex human attempt to escape emotional pain. Particular attention was paid to codependency and the «shock wave» that devastates the immediate environment of an addicted individual, as well as the stages of this condition – from denial to profound realization.

The speakers presented effective tools for addressing both chemical and non-chemical addictions. The transition from theoretical knowledge to personal experience was facilitated through the analysis of visual imagery, which helped participants identify the internal resources needed to overcome crises.

The climax and most powerful emotional component of the lecture was the «Living Book» format – the story of an individual who has navigated a path of complex life transformation. This fusion of academic knowledge, diagnostics, and personal interaction underscored the main message of the event: behind every addiction lies pain, but behind every realization lies a path toward true freedom and the authorship of one’s own life.

Based on materials provided by the Department of Psychology