ABSTRACT
In Part I of this book we talked at length about the nature of loneliness and its consequences for health and well-being. We have described that although most people experience loneliness to some degree without ill effect, too much can be harmful. Unfortunately, for those that have become chronically lonely the problem is not easy to resolve. Those seeking help for loneliness will probably have tried persistently to deal with it themselves. Their failure is evidence that effort alone is rarely enough. The clichés ‘try to meet more people’, ‘find yourself a boyfriend/ girlfriend’, and ‘try to get out more’, are rarely helpful. For each individual, real help requires careful consideration of their unique experience of loneliness.
