Through a Screen Darkly: Psychoanalytic Reflections During the Pandemic

In Through a Screen Darkly: Psychoanalytic Reflections During the Pandemic, New York psychiatrist Dr. Ahron Friedberg explores the COVID-19 pandemic through the real-time reflections of his patients. The book is divided into four parts, each corresponding to a different stage of the pandemic. Part One, “Pandemic,” explores the development of coping strategies amidst unprecedented challenges. In Part Two, “Venturing Out,” Friedberg delves into the power of poetry as a means of bouncing back and finding resilience. Part Three, “The New Normal,” delves into the process of adapting to rapidly changing circumstances and forging new ways of dating, attending school, and embracing change. Finally, in Part Four, “Life, simplified (not really),” Friedberg examines the formation of new connections and the pursuit of intimacy during a time of global trauma. Throughout the book, Friedberg highlights the paradoxical nature of the pandemic, revealing that while it brings consequences, it also introduces innovative methods of connection and survival that are relevant beyond the crisis. By sharing his personal story of recovery and resilience, Friedberg challenges the psychiatric field to explore new questions and emphasizes the importance of learning from the adaptations brought about by the pandemic.