When women end a friendship, the heartbreak can be devastating, yet we rarely talk about how hard it is to grieve somebody who is still alive. Susan Shapiro Barash joins Gretta to explore the complex world of female friendship estrangement based on her groundbreaking research interviewing 150 diverse women. Her new book, "Estranged: How Strained Female Friendships Are Mended or Ended," challenges the lifelong "best friends forever" narrative that has left countless women feeling down when their closest friendships crumble. From the faithless friend who betrays your trust to the green-eyed friend consumed by jealousy, Barash identifies different types of toxic friendships that lead women to the painful decision of ending relationships they once cherished. Whether you've been ghosted or betrayed by a friend, are healing from a friendship breakup, or seeking to build healthier connections, this episode offers compassionate guidance for navigating one of life's most under-discussed transitions.

Connect With Gretta

❤️‍🩹Free & Private Facebook Support Group | Instagram | YouTube | copingwithghosting.com

Host Gretta Perlmutter, MA, a Certified Post Betrayal Transformation® Coach, delivers evidence-based strategies for turning personal betrayal into a powerful catalyst for growth and healing.

Connect With Susan Shapiro Barash

Read Susan's Book: Estranged: How Strained Female Friendships Are Mended or Ended | Susan's Website

Susan Shapiro Barash has written more than a dozen nonfiction books, including Tripping the Prom Queen, Toxic Friends, and You’re Grounded Forever, but First Let’s Go Shopping. For more than 20 years, she taught gender studies at Marymount Manhattan College and has guest taught creative nonfiction at the Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College. Her fiction is published under her pen name, Susannah Marren.

Music: "Ghosted" by Gustavo Zaiah

Disclaimer: This information is designed to mentor and guide you to cope with Ghosting by cultivating a positive mindset and implementing self-care practices. It is for educational purposes only; it solely provides self-help tools. Coping With Ghosting does not provide health care or psychological therapy services and does not diagnose or treat any physical or mental ailment of the mind or body. The content is not a substitute for therapy or any advice given by a licensed psychologist or other licensed or registered professionals.

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Note to All Listeners: Ghosting is defined as: The practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication (Oxford Languages). When you leave an abusive situation without saying "goodbye," it's not ghosting, it's "self-protection." When you quietly exit a relationship after a boundary has been violated, it's not ghosting, it's "self-respect."

If you've been abandoned in a relationship, this episode is for you. Whether a friend disappeared, a business partner left you on read, or the love of your life ghosted - this episode will explain why it's not personal. It's not your fault, and you didn't deserve this. This show was initially published in 2022.

*NOTE: Being "ghosted" is different from leaving an abusive situation without a goodbye - that is "self-protection." It's also different from disappearing after a boundary has been violated; that is "self-respect."

Connect with Gretta:

Private Coaching with Gretta

Free Guide: What to Say To Your Ghost

Free Coping With Ghosting Guide

Free Facebook Support Group | Instagram | copingwithghosting.com

Music: "Ghosted" by Gustavo Zaiah

Disclaimer: This information is designed to mentor and guide you to cope with ghosting by cultivating a positive mindset and implementing self-care practices. It is for educational purposes only; it solely provides self-help tools for your use. Coping With Ghosting is not providing health care or psychological therapy services and is not diagnosing or treating any physical or mental ailment of the mind or body. The content is not a substitute for therapy or any advice given by a licensed psychologist or other licensed or other registered professionals.

Support the show

Note to All Listeners: Ghosting is defined as: The practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication (Oxford Languages). When you leave an abusive situation without saying "goodbye," it's not ghosting, it's "self-protection." When you quietly exit a relationship after a boundary has been violated, it's not ghosting, it's "self-respect."

This episode originally aired on April 4, 2021.

Want healthy ways to cope and heal after being ghosted? Listen as Gretta explains seven healthy ways to get over the ghost so that you can quickly move on with your life. These tips are practical, and ones that you can implement into your life today.

Want more ways to heal after being ghosted? Download your Free Coping With Ghosting Guide that pairs with this episode.

Connect With Gretta

Free & Private Facebook Support Group | Instagram | YouTube | coachgretta.com | Email gretta@copingwithghosting.com to request topics for the upcoming book about ghosting in love!

Host Gretta Perlmutter, MA, a Certified Post Betrayal Transformation® Coach, delivers evidence-based strategies to help clients transform after heartbreak, betrayal, and life’s toughest moments.

Music: "Ghosted" by Gustavo Zaiah

Disclaimer: This information is designed to mentor and guide you to cope with Ghosting by cultivating a positive mindset and implementing self-care practices. It is for educational purposes only; it solely provides self-help tools. Coping With Ghosting does not provide health care or psychological therapy services and does not diagnose or treat any physical or mental ailment of the mind or body. The content is not a substitute for therapy or any advice given by a licensed psychologist or other licensed or registered professionals.

Support the show

Note to All Listeners: Ghosting is defined as: The practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication (Oxford Languages). When you leave an abusive situation without saying "goodbye," it's not ghosting, it's "self-protection." When you quietly exit a relationship after a boundary has been violated, it's not ghosting, it's "self-respect."

Has your life veered dramatically off course from what you planned? Whether through ghosting, betrayal, or an unexpected life challenge, many of us find ourselves struggling with the gap between expectation and reality. This powerful conversation between Host Gretta and Kate Berski, mental health advocate, and author of "30 Phobia: Why Your 20s Suck and How to Get Unstuck," offers liberating perspectives for anyone feeling lost, behind, or simply different from the "normal" timeline. Learn about:

• The “expectation gap” that can make us feel behind in life
• Why social media comparisons fuel misery
• Why loneliness spikes during life transitions
• Mindset shifts for when you feel behind in career and finances
• The myth of the “arrival fallacy” and chasing milestones
• Kate’s 4-step framework for finding joy in the journey

Ready to break free from society's timeline and create a life that's authentically yours? This episode will help you redefine success on your terms and find peace exactly where you are.

Connect With Gretta

Free & Private Facebook Support Group | Instagram | YouTube | coachgretta.com

Host Gretta Perlmutter, MA, a Certified Post Betrayal Transformation® Coach, delivers evidence-based strategies to help clients transform after heartbreak, betrayal, and life’s toughest moments.

Connect With Kate Berski

Kate's Website | Instagram | Read "30-Phobia"

Kate Berski helps women take back their 20s and build a life that truly fits. She normalises being normal and busts societal ‘milestone myths’ with real facts and fresh data.

Music: "Ghosted" by Gustavo Zaiah

Disclaimer: This information is designed to mentor and guide you to cope with Ghosting by cultivating a positive mindset and implementing self-care practices. It is for educational purposes only; it solely provides self-help tools. Coping With Ghosting does not provide health care or psychological therapy services and does not diagnose or treat any physical or mental ailment of the mind or body. The content is not a substitute for therapy or any advice given by a licensed psychologist or other licensed or registered professionals.

Support the show

Note to All Listeners: Ghosting is defined as: The practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication (Oxford Languages). When you leave an abusive situation without saying "goodbye," it's not ghosting, it's "self-protection." When you quietly exit a relationship after a boundary has been violated, it's not ghosting, it's "self-respect."

“Loneliness doesn’t come from being single; it comes from believing the lies that you’re not enough on your own.” - Fanny Tristan In this episode, host Gretta speaks with women’s empowerment coach and licensed trauma therapist Fanny Tristan, LCSW-R, for a powerful conversation about healing from loneliness, trust issues, and the pressure to be in a relationship. This conversation offers guidance and hope for women and everyone else alike.
Together, Fanny and Gretta explore:

• How to push back against societal pressure to be coupled
• Practical strategies for self-soothing and moving forward when feeling lonely
• Ways to rebuild trust and create supportive community connections

Tune in to break free from cultural expectations and say “yes” to a richer, more fulfilling life.

Connect With Gretta

Free & Private Facebook Support Group | Instagram | YouTube | copingwithghosting.com

Host Gretta Perlmutter, MA, a Certified Post Betrayal Transformation® Coach, delivers evidence-based strategies for turning personal betrayal into a powerful catalyst for growth and healing.

Connect With Fanny

Fanny Tristan is the founder of Her Soul Supply and a licensed clinical social worker with over 15 years of experience supporting women of color through life’s transitions. Her deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by Black and Brown women fuels her commitment to empowering them to thrive—on their own terms.

Her Soul Supply | Instagram

Music: "Ghosted" by Gustavo Zaiah

Disclaimer: This information is designed to mentor and guide you to cope with Ghosting by cultivating a positive mindset and implementing self-care practices. It is for educational purposes only; it solely provides self-help tools. Coping With Ghosting does not provide health care or psychological therapy services and does not diagnose or treat any physical or mental ailment of the mind or body. The content is not a substitute for therapy or any advice given by a licensed psychologist or other licensed or registered professionals.

Support the show

Note to All Listeners: Ghosting is defined as: The practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication (Oxford Languages). When you leave an abusive situation without saying "goodbye," it's not ghosting, it's "self-protection." When you quietly exit a relationship after a boundary has been violated, it's not ghosting, it's "self-respect."

In this episode of Coping with Ghosting, host Gretta Perlmutter is joined by Rahim Thawer, MSW, RSW, a racialized, queer social worker and author of The Mental Health Guide for Cis and Trans Queer Guys: Skills to Cope and Thrive as Your Authentic Self. Together, they explore the emotional toll of ghosting specifically on gay, bi, trans, or queer guys, and how internalized shame, dating app culture, and communication gaps uniquely affect this community. Rahim offers insights from his new book, shedding light on how queer guys can navigate rejection, heal from ghosting, and reframe their experience. This candid conversation calls for more empathy and open dialogue in modern queer dating.

Connect With Gretta

❤️‍🩹Free & Private Facebook Support Group | Instagram | YouTube | copingwithghosting.com

Host Gretta Perlmutter, MA, a Certified Post Betrayal Transformation® Coach, delivers evidence-based strategies for turning personal betrayal into a powerful catalyst for growth and healing.

Connect With Rahim

🌈Read the book! The Mental Health Guide for Cis & Trans Queer Guys | Instagram | YouTube

Music: "Ghosted" by Gustavo Ramos

Disclaimer: This information is designed to mentor and guide you to cope with Ghosting by cultivating a positive mindset and implementing self-care practices. It is for educational purposes only; it solely provides self-help tools. Coping With Ghosting does not provide health care or psychological therapy services and does not diagnose or treat any physical or mental ailment of the mind or body. The content is not a substitute for therapy or any advice given by a licensed psychologist or other licensed or registered professionals.

Support the show

Note to All Listeners: Ghosting is defined as: The practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication (Oxford Languages). When you leave an abusive situation without saying "goodbye," it's not ghosting, it's "self-protection." When you quietly exit a relationship after a boundary has been violated, it's not ghosting, it's "self-respect."

Have you or somebody you care about ever been in a toxic relationship? If so, it's possible that it was a trauma bond. Knowledge is power, and understanding and recognizing the signs of this type of relationship can be life-changing. In this show, host Gretta interviews Jordanne Sculler, LMHC, about trauma bonds and ghosting. Jordanne is a licensed therapist and mental health expert in New York City, and is dedicated to helping individuals and couples unlock their potential for growth, self-awareness, and authentic connection.

Tune in to Discover:

• The Trauma Bond Stages: love bombing, trust and dependency, criticism, gaslighting, emotional addiction, loss of self, and resignation
• Why ghosting happens in trauma bonds and toxic relationships
• How to break out of a trauma bond and heal

To anyone out there who is healing after being in a trauma bond: You can get better. Please take it one day at a time.

Connect With Gretta

Free & Private Facebook Support Group | Instagram | YouTube | copingwithghosting.com

Host Gretta Perlmutter, MA, a Certified Post Betrayal Transformation® Coach, delivers evidence-based strategies for turning personal betrayal into a powerful catalyst for growth and healing.

Connect With Jordanne

Website | Instagram

Music: "Ghosted" by Gustavo Ramos

Disclaimer: This information is designed to mentor and guide you to cope with Ghosting by cultivating a positive mindset and implementing self-care practices. It is for educational purposes only; it solely provides self-help tools. Coping With Ghosting does not provide health care or psychological therapy services and does not diagnose or treat any physical or mental ailment of the mind or body. The content is not a substitute for therapy or any advice given by a licensed psychologist or other licensed or registered professionals.

Support the show

Note to All Listeners: Ghosting is defined as: The practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication (Oxford Languages). When you leave an abusive situation without saying "goodbye," it's not ghosting, it's "self-protection." When you quietly exit a relationship after a boundary has been violated, it's not ghosting, it's "self-respect."

If you’ve been gaslit, manipulated, betrayed, ghosted, or are feeling emotionally distressed in a relationship, this episode is for you. Therapist Shannon Petrovich, LCSW, LISAC, BCD—who brings over 30 years of clinical experience—joins host Gretta to explore narcissistic and other toxic relationship dynamics. Together, they offer tools to help you set boundaries, release emotional pain, reclaim your strength, and start your healing journey.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

• Tell the difference between overt and covert narcissists
• Spot trauma bonds and manipulation tactics
• Understand why someone would ghost you without blocking you
• Outsmart a narcissist without losing your peace
• Reframe emotional triggers as healing guides

Shannon also shares grounded insights on emotional detachment, self-care, and practical ways to protect yourself from toxic patterns so that you can move forward with clarity and confidence.

Shannon Petrovich, LCSW, LISAC, BCD, is a therapist with 30+ years of experience. Through her work, Shannon helps women heal from narcissistic and other toxic relationships.

Connect With Gretta

Free & Private Facebook Support Group | Instagram | YouTube | copingwithghosting.com

Host Gretta Perlmutter, MA, a Certified Post Betrayal Transformation® Coach, delivers evidence-based strategies for turning personal betrayal into a powerful catalyst for growth and healing.

Connect with Shannon

Out of the FOG, into the CLEAR; Journaling to Help You Heal from Toxic Relationships | YouTube

Music: "Ghosted" by Gustavo Ramos

Disclaimer: This information is designed to mentor and guide you to cope with Ghosting by cultivating a positive mindset and implementing self-care practices. It is for educational purposes only; it solely provides self-help tools. Coping With Ghosting does not provide health care or psychological therapy services and does not diagnose or treat any physical or mental ailment of the mind or body. The content is not a substitute for therapy or any advice given by a licensed psychologist or other licensed or registered professionals.

Support the show

Note to All Listeners: Ghosting is defined as: The practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication (Oxford Languages). When you leave an abusive situation without saying "goodbye," it's not ghosting, it's "self-protection." When you quietly exit a relationship after a boundary has been violated, it's not ghosting, it's "self-respect."