Are you aware that around 25% of marriages experience at least one infidelity at some point?
Although this number is a lot higher than we would hope, it’s important to acknowledge that cheating is a common occurrence in our society. While nobody deserves to have a cheating partner, learning how to handle infidelity can help you prepare for the worst-case scenario.
Surviving infidelity can feel like an impossible feat since it breaks our hearts, but it is possible to heal. Keep reading this guide if you’d like to learn the top tips on how to move forward after an affair.
Decide If Marital Infidelity Is a Dealbreaker
We all have different dealbreakers when it comes to our relationships, so you need to dig deep into yourself to figure out if you can ever forgive your partner. Some people try to deny these dealbreakers and only prolong their pain by staying with someone they’ll never trust again.
As terrible as it is to say goodbye to someone you thought you’d be with for life, you owe it to yourself to leave if marriage infidelity is a dealbreaker.
Get Individual or Couples’ Therapy
Everyone can benefit from marriage advice, but therapy is even more important for couples who decide to work things out after an affair. Therapy is a neutral place where both partners can air their grievances and get to the bottom of why the infidelity happened.
With the help of a professional, you can work to ensure this never happens again.
Promise to Maintain Open Communication
Surviving an affair is only possible if both partners promise to be open and honest 24/7. The partner who’s been cheated on will likely have lots of questions, so the cheater will have to be patient and take accountability.
Affairs can break a person’s self-esteem, so the cheater will need to spend time nurturing them and letting their partner focus on self-care.
Create Boundaries That Make You Feel Safe
To save the marriage, the affair needs to end and the lover will ideally be cut out permanently. If your partner works with their lover, then discuss options that will make you feel comfortable moving forward.
Some people hire an Infidelity Private Investigator to get confirmation that their partner is no longer unfaithful.
Focus on Empathy
The cheater will have to understand how devastated their partner is and do anything they can to help them heal. The person who was cheated on needs to remind themselves that nobody is perfect and that people can grow.
As long as both partners can remain empathetic, then you should be able to come out of an affair stronger than ever.
Surviving Infidelity Is Hard But Possible
Learning about an affair is some of the worst news a person could get. As traumatic as this event is, surviving infidelity is possible if you follow these tips.
Would you like to learn other ways you can strengthen your relationship? Have a look at our other posts.
