White presents a deeply intimate account of her chronic struggle with loneliness, evoking the barrenness of an existence marked by sparse human contact, devoid of intimate connections. White asserts that loneliness is a distinct—and stigmatized—psychological problem, deserving of public attention. Her clinical breakdown of loneliness, compounded by existing research, is illuminating. Yet, in investigating a “cure” for loneliness, White falls short. For a supposedly embedded psychological condition that can transcend externalities, like the presence—or absence—of a social network, the only antidote she finds is connections with others. White leaves us with the cruel reality of the affliction; unlike depression, there is no anti-lonely pill—at least not yet.
This article appears in Feb 11-17, 2010.