When a 24-Year Marriage Ends: Divorce, Emotional Neglect & Finding Yourself Again

What happens when the life you built for more than two decades suddenly falls apart?In this episode of Sh!t Creek Survivors, Heather Theisen-Gandara shares her journey through childhood trauma, emotional neglect, and an unexpected divorce after 24 years of marriage.What follows is an honest conversation about grief, identity loss, responsibility, and what it actually takes to rebuild your life when nothing looks the way you thought it would.Heather opens up about growing up in a home shaped by addiction and instability, the healing work that helped her process old wounds, and the lessons she learned while rediscovering herself in midlife.Together, Cam and Heather discuss:• Childhood trauma and emotional neglect• Therapy, EMDR, and processing difficult emotions• Moving from victimhood to personal responsibility• Divorce after a long-term marriage• Rebuilding confidence and identity• Letting go of resentment• Midlife reinvention and finding purpose again• Why healing isn't linear—and why that's okayWhether you're navigating divorce, carrying unresolved pain from childhood, or finding yourself in a season of unexpected change, this conversation offers hope, perspective, and practical wisdom for taking the next step forward.Because even when life leaves you stuck up shit creek, there's always a paddle waiting to be found.ABOUT OUR GUESTHeather Theisen-Gandara is a divorce coach, speaker, and author who helps women over 40 rebuild confidence, rediscover who they are, and embrace the next chapter of their lives after divorce and major life transitions.After experiencing an unexpected divorce following a 24-year marriage, Heather transformed her own healing journey into a mission to help other women move from survival to self-discovery.She is the author of:The Ultimate Glow-Up Guide for Women Over 40: Build Confidence, Redefine Your Style, and Reclaim Your Spark.Website:www.reignitecollective.comSocial Media:YouTube: @HeatherGlowsAgainInstagram: @HeatherGlowsAgainTikTok: @HeatherGlowsAgainFacebook: @HeatherGlowsAgainPlease follow Sh!t Creek Survivors and leave a rating or review on your favorite podcast platform. Sharing the show with someone you care about is one of the best ways to help these stories reach the people who need them most.