Schlepping Through Heartbreak

Relationships

How to Survive a Road Trip Vacation With Your Spouse

Vikki Stark M.S.W., M.F.T. on August 18, 2026

A road trip uncovers the bare-bones dynamic between the couple. Conflict often arises when one person feels strongly about how things should go, and the other feels controlled.

A road trip uncovers the bare-bones dynamic between the couple. Conflict often arises when one person feels strongly about how things should go, and the other feels controlled.

Divorce

When Wives Are Thrown Overboard Without a Life Jacket

Vikki Stark M.S.W., M.F.T. on May 19, 2026

Women often feel their worth has diminished when a husband leaves, as it's assumed that being married is more valuable than being divorced. You don't need to accept that.

Women often feel their worth has diminished when a husband leaves, as it's assumed that being married is more valuable than being divorced. You don't need to accept that.

Marriage

What Happened to Belle Burden in “Strangers” Has a Name

Vikki Stark M.S.W., M.F.T. on January 29, 2026

Women who experience Wife Abandonment Syndrome feel they are the only one to whom this has happened. Belle Burden's book will help them know that they are not alone.

Women who experience Wife Abandonment Syndrome feel they are the only one to whom this has happened. Belle Burden's book will help them know that they are not alone.

Moral Injury

The Moral Injury of Wife Abandonment

Vikki Stark M.S.W., M.F.T. on January 5, 2026

Understanding moral injury is vitally important because it gives an explanation of why wife abandonment is an existential wound that makes one question what life's all about.

Understanding moral injury is vitally important because it gives an explanation of why wife abandonment is an existential wound that makes one question what life's all about.

Grief

Did You Cry Today?

Vikki Stark M.S.W., M.F.T. on June 24, 2025

It's normal to cry if you're heartbroken after the end of an important relationship. There are many different types of crying and many different triggers. What type of crying do you do?

It's normal to cry if you're heartbroken after the end of an important relationship. There are many different types of crying and many different triggers. What type of crying do you do?

Animal Behavior

My Puppy Has Magic Powers

Vikki Stark M.S.W., M.F.T. on May 15, 2025

Personal Perspective: Why do we have pets? Excess love, perhaps. Giving love is just as satisfying as receiving it; it’s a basic human need.

Personal Perspective: Why do we have pets? Excess love, perhaps. Giving love is just as satisfying as receiving it; it’s a basic human need.

Resilience

Three Secrets of Resilient People

Vikki Stark M.S.W., M.F.T. on April 16, 2025

Strengthening your resilience can soothe the complicated grief of being abandoned by your husband.

Strengthening your resilience can soothe the complicated grief of being abandoned by your husband.

Career

Did You Move Cities or Countries for Your Ex-Husband?

Vikki Stark M.S.W., M.F.T. on January 17, 2025

While divorce is challenging for all, women who repeatedly sacrificed for their partners often experience emotional, financial, and social struggles that make healing harder.

While divorce is challenging for all, women who repeatedly sacrificed for their partners often experience emotional, financial, and social struggles that make healing harder.

Divorce

Use Self-Compassion to Overcome the Shame of Being Abandoned

Vikki Stark M.S.W., M.F.T. on November 8, 2024

When your husband walks away from your marriage, you may feel shame that you've done something wrong or that there's something wrong with you and others can see it.

When your husband walks away from your marriage, you may feel shame that you've done something wrong or that there's something wrong with you and others can see it.

Gaslighting

Trust Yourself if You’ve Been Gaslighted!

Vikki Stark M.S.W., M.F.T. on August 6, 2024

A perfect example of gaslighting is when a person’s reality is challenged to the point that she questions her own lived experience. Believing your own reality requires grit.

A perfect example of gaslighting is when a person’s reality is challenged to the point that she questions her own lived experience. Believing your own reality requires grit.

Relationships

When He Abandons You, Don't Abandon Yourself

Vikki Stark M.S.W., M.F.T. on June 30, 2024

Women who have been abandoned from a long-term marriage often blame themselves and take on negative messages from their ex. Instead, they should nurture themselves.

Women who have been abandoned from a long-term marriage often blame themselves and take on negative messages from their ex. Instead, they should nurture themselves.

Sleep

It's Not a Sleep Divorce, It's a Sleep Retreat

Vikki Stark M.S.W., M.F.T. on February 28, 2024

Removing the stigma of couples sleeping apart.

Removing the stigma of couples sleeping apart.

Law and Crime

He Got Away With It!

Vikki Stark M.S.W., M.F.T. on January 14, 2024

Striving for justice takes a lot of emotional energy and keeps abandoned wives obsessing. You need to know when to give up trying and move upwards and onwards.

Striving for justice takes a lot of emotional energy and keeps abandoned wives obsessing. You need to know when to give up trying and move upwards and onwards.

Divorce

Shed the Victim Mentality

Vikki Stark M.S.W., M.F.T. on November 29, 2023

When you've been victimized, you may be tempted to adopt a victim mentality. Instead, a stoic point of view will help you take adversity and turn it into a challenge.

When you've been victimized, you may be tempted to adopt a victim mentality. Instead, a stoic point of view will help you take adversity and turn it into a challenge.

Relationships

Why Did It Hurt So Badly When Your Husband Left?

Vikki Stark M.S.W., M.F.T. on July 27, 2023

The shocking way women describe what it felt like when their husbands left reveals that they experience it like a physical assault.

The shocking way women describe what it felt like when their husbands left reveals that they experience it like a physical assault.

Divorce

Learning to Trust After Romantic Abandonment

Vikki Stark M.S.W., M.F.T. on July 13, 2023

It is possible to trust again in a new relationship even if you have been abandoned by your husband. Any new relationship will have a different quality from your last.

It is possible to trust again in a new relationship even if you have been abandoned by your husband. Any new relationship will have a different quality from your last.

Optimism

What Alice Herz-Sommer Taught Me About Life

Vikki Stark M.S.W., M.F.T. on May 2, 2023

Lessons from a Holocaust survivor who was a perennial optimist.

Lessons from a Holocaust survivor who was a perennial optimist.

Wisdom

Powering Up and Powering Out After Your Husband Leaves

Vikki Stark M.S.W., M.F.T. on March 31, 2023

To get your power back, do what all female superheroes do. Get in touch with your own wise woman power to determine the next chapter in your life and start respecting yourself!

To get your power back, do what all female superheroes do. Get in touch with your own wise woman power to determine the next chapter in your life and start respecting yourself!

Divorce

Make New Memories Post-Divorce

Vikki Stark M.S.W., M.F.T. on December 23, 2022

A Personal Perspective: Christmas ornaments signify family time, and each one contains a little bomb of a memory.

A Personal Perspective: Christmas ornaments signify family time, and each one contains a little bomb of a memory.

Marriage

Does How It Ended Negate the Marriage Itself?

Vikki Stark M.S.W., M.F.T. on October 17, 2022

Abandoned wives feel they invested whole-heartedly, fully expecting to be together with their husband till death do them part. Was it under false pretences?

Abandoned wives feel they invested whole-heartedly, fully expecting to be together with their husband till death do them part. Was it under false pretences?