Divorce, Hope and Healing

Divorce has taken on epidemic proportions and "e;Divorce Grief"e; has been described by many as worse than the death of a spouse. Heidi's frank and open autobiography journeys through her sheltered upbringing in a German village, her often dangerous and adventurous nursing service in East Africa and her choice between mission and marriage to a British clergyman. Heidi perceived her marriage as God ordained and meant for life but it ends abruptly. Like 100,000 other individuals in the UK each year, she is left facing utter grief and an emotional roller coaster. Feelings of being trapped, angry, victimised and hopeless lead to despair that endanger not only her life but also the lives of her children. Discovering Divorce Recovery Workshop (DRW) UK, a National Charity supporting separated and divorced individuals, challenges and helps Heidi to wrestle with issues like: "e;why me?"e;, "e;how to relate to an ex-spouse"e;, "e;becoming a single parent"e;, "e;how to let go of the past"e; and "e;new relationships"e;. In common with 6,000 people who have gone through the DRW workshop, Heidi grows stronger, becomes more fulfilled and discovers that the best is yet to come! As she tries to expand the work of DRW, Heidi has to deal with the stigma attached to divorce and confronts church leaders to embrace the challenge of starting local support groups. The book offers an insight into the work of DRW and allows individuals who cannot access a local support group to partake in some of the discussions and themes tackled by DRW. It allows relatives and friends of divorced individuals/families to gain a greater understanding of the divorce grief experience. Hope and healing is possible not only for the affected adult, but also for their children.