We’re all feeling confined and frustrated at the limitations of lives during the Covid-19 outbreak. Honey Dahari has written a short book aimed at helping people realize the special frustrations of different age-groups and a quick, easy way to find some peace. I often find therapy books a bit cloying, or hard to come to the point. This book is very different. It presents problems and solutions in an easy to access way. I wanted to find out more about the author and her book, so I asked Ms. Dahari to sit down for an interview.

Diana Belchase: What motivated you to write this book? 

Honey Dahari: Shortly after the Covonavirus reached official Pandemic status, I was inundated with phone calls with requests for therapy. There simply aren’t enough hours in the day to help everyone, so I decided to put together something that would be helpful to those who are unable to find immediate support.

Diana Belchase: That’s wonderful and thoughtful. It must be frustrating not to be able to help everyone who calls upon you. Do you think that life after covid will be different from other disasters such as 9/11?

Honey Dahari: In my opinion, the Coronavirus is unlike other disasters in that it does not have a definite end – at least in sight- right now. We are now told antibodies do not provide long term immunity, and this is a difficult virus to develop an effective vaccine for due to the rapid rate of mutations, so neither of these scenarios lend hope for a definite end to the pandemic. The lack of resolution is what makes it so unique and difficult.

Diana Belchase: Has Covid has affected children as much as it does adults?

Honey Dahari: I think the pandemic affects children differently than adults, but the short term impact may be more significant for children. Schools are closed, schedules are altered, they are unable to play with their friends, and cannot go to parks to play. The disruption on education, routine, social skill development, and physical activity is remarkable. These areas are key for the wellbeing and development for children, and sadly will likely affect children, families, and educators for months and even years to come. The good news is that children are very resilient. I believe that children will overall recover from the impact within a relatively short period of time.

Diana Belchase: Which segment of the population do you believe will be affected most? Or will we all feel this the same way?

Honey Dahari: College students and recent graduates are going to feel this the most in the short and long term. The economic situation affects their ability to find a job in their field of study. Starting salaries are lower too, companies are less likely to offer bonuses and merit increases. These are very significant concerns for the long term financial stability and wellness of this population. I think that they act differently than other age groups for years to come, because their experiences will lead them to think differently about spending money, planning major life events such as marriage, children, buying a home, etc.. I also think that it may be harder for them to reach the point at which  they will be comfortable retiring, at least in part because they will start working at a lower wage than those in more secure financial times, but also because they will be fearful of another global crisis.

Diana Belchase: Will ever things ever be “normal” again?

Honey Dahari: What is normal? I laugh as I ask that, because it’s very typical of a therapist to turn around a question 🙂 We as human beings are comfortable in routine, and that is how we define “normal.” But now we find ourselves in an evolving situation where “normal” is changing because it must, for our survival. I think that we will achieve a new normal, which has yet to be defined. In many ways, we are unlikely to ever return to pre-pandemic levels of interpersonal interaction, and in our thoughts and behaviors around illness. 

Diana Belchase: Hmm… So, what do you think life might be like 5-10 years from now? 

Honey Dahari: I believe that within the next 5-10 years we will see a relaxation of social distancing and mask wearing, but I also think that workplaces will continue to shift towards remote employment as much as possible. I also believe that the changes in how we seek medical care will be long term in nature, and that medical and mental health providers will continue to offer remote service options in the future. 

Diana Belchase: Is there any possible upside about all of this?

Honey Dahari: It is my hope that the stigma around seeking support from a therapist will be reduced, and I think this is possible because the percentage of the population requesting these services has increased. I also think that the flexibility in how we work, receive medical and mental health services, socialize, and educate, can help reduce barriers overall. If these are maintained after we reach a point of closure, then we will be able to say that growth has come about.

Diana Belchase: Thanks for sitting down and talking with us about your book, Emotional Survival After Covid, today. For readers who’d like to purchase the book, please click HERE.

For those interested in learning more about Ms. Dahari as and author and as a therapist, please click HERE.

Here’s an excerpt from her latest book:

Psychological Trauma: Emotional Survival after Covid

is the self-help book for those either were ill with the Coronavirus infection, or know someone who had it, and are desperately seeking support for healing the emotional trauma that accompanies this pandemic.
In this guide to life after the trauma of the Covid-19 infection, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Honey T. Dahari helps you to:

Understand what is trauma from the Coronavirus, and how this trauma is especially painful.
See why trauma causes stress for relationships.
Learn about loss and grieving in the post-pandemic era.
Explore different types of trauma therapy.
Figure out how you can help someone you love.
Learn how to take charge of your recovery.

By the end of Psychological Trauma: Emotional Survival after Covid, you’ll understand why you are living in pain and fear, how to take control of your response to trauma, and how to help those you love.