Alone with You in the Ether: A Love Story

Alone with You in the Ether isn’t just a love story but also an examination of how learning to live with mental illness can become a process that arises out of love. Throughout history, mainstream society has stigmatized mental illness in all its forms. Despite the prevalence of mental illness and the likelihood that someone may experience it during a lifetime, it remains taboo and a source of shame for those whom society deems neurologically atypical. Regan’s mental health struggles stem from a mood disorder that remains unnamed throughout the novel. She’s prone to mood swings and erratic behavior, and she’s intensely emotional. Like many people with similar challenges, Regan is stigmatized even by her own family, who often attempt to contact her but seem only to want to patronize and criticize her when she’s around. The lack of acceptance that Regan feels from her family contributes to her poor mental health. On the other hand, while Aldo has the love and support of his family, he still experiences thoughts of dying by suicide and relies on cannabis to quell his racing thoughts. By relying on one another, Aldo and Regan access a source of support and understanding they wouldn’t otherwise have. Stories like Alone With You in the Ether, which feature honest depictions of people with mental illness, foster empathy and understanding and thereby help reduce the stigma toward mental illness. By refraining from naming either of the protagonists’ conditions, the author maintains relatability and aids in suspending judgment that often results from discussions of terms like “bipolar disorder” or “obsessive-compulsive disorder.”