You know that the very minute you see that text notification appear on their phone that everything becomes crystal clear: the mysterious calls, the “working late” excuses, the unexplained emotional and physical distance. Finding out that your partner has been unfaithful can hit you like a ton of bricks. Your relationship may be thrown into a state of crisis.
It is natural to want to know why your partner cheated, but there is rarely a simple answer to why someone becomes unfaithful. It could be a symptom of other problems in your relationship, it could relate to something in your partner’s past, or it could be totally unrelated to you and your connection with each other.
No matter the cause, you’ll have a lot of complicated feelings to sort through, and a lot to think about as you decide how to move forward. These eight tips can help you cope with the aftermath of betrayal.
Accept Your Feelings
Shock, agitation, fear, pain, depression, and confusion are normal. You will likely feel like you’re on an emotional rollercoaster for a while. It takes time to get beyond the pain of having an unfaithful mate. Don’t expect the mixture of feelings and the mistrust to go away even if you’re trying to forgive your partner and repair your relationship. Everything you’ve built together has changed and it is natural to grieve what you once shared.
Don’t Seek Revenge
Being betrayed by your partner can induce rage. In your furious state, your first instinct may be to punish your mate by trash-talking him to friends (or worse, on social media), or think about having an affair yourself to get even. You may get a temporary sense of satisfaction from these sorts of actions, but ultimately they can work against you, keeping you in a state of anger instead of focusing on healing and moving on, alone or together.
Think before you tell your family, as well.
They will likely have strong opinions about what you should do—leave or stay. But nobody else really can understand what goes on in another person’s relationship outside of you and them. While you are pondering how you’re going to proceed, it’s best to keep the details private.
Try to Take Care of Yourself
You may have some physical reactions due to stress such as nausea, diarrhea, sleep problems (too little or too much), shakiness, difficulty concentrating, not wanting to eat, or overeating. Once the initial shock has passed, try your best to eat nutrient-dense foods, stay on a routine, sleep regular hours, get some exercise each day, drink plenty of water, and, yes, have some fun where you can.
Avoid the Blame Game
Blaming yourself, your partner, or the third party won’t change anything and it’s just wasted energy. Try not to play the victim, either, if you can help it, or wallow in self-pity. It will only make you feel more helpless and bad about yourself.
Keep Your Kids out of It
If you have kids together, leave them out of it. This situation is between you and your partner and should not involve them. Even if you have decided to end your relationship, sharing details about an affair will only put your kids in an untenable position, causing them anxiety, making them feel stuck in the middle, and forced to take sides.
Get Practical
If you suspect that the affair will most likely lead to the end of your relationship, give some thought to practical matters, such as where you will live, if you have enough money to pay for your essentials, and, if you have kids, the type of custody arrangement you want. You may also want to consider asking your partner to be tested for STDs and to get yourself tested as well if you have had sex during or after the affair.
Take It One Day at a Time
Infidelity is one of the more difficult challenges a marriage can face, but it doesn’t always mean it’s the end. As you work through the aftermath over time, it will become clear how to go forward so that the next phase of your life, together or apart, can begin.
Seek Counseling
Don’t try to get through coping with unfaithfulness alone. Before you make any decisions about whether or not to end your relationship, it’s wise to talk to a couples counselor, who will be neutral and can help you gain insight into what exactly happened.2 You can ask your partner questions and share your feelings without losing your cool.
An experienced therapist can help you communicate better and process feelings of guilt, shame, and whatever else you might be feeling. If you decide to end the relationship, you’ll know that you tried your best to make it work.
By Sheri Stritof
