Any relationship can suffer from infidelity. Such a betrayal can have devastating long-term effects. The quality of your relationship may suffer in the long run as a result of infidelity. Sexual or emotional affairs with people who are not part of your relationship agreement with your partner constitute infidelity. You might have cheated on your partner and been shocked by the results, or you might have been the victim of cheating and struggle to move on. You might be concerned about how having an affair will impact you, your relationship, and your mental health. You might also wonder if you can move on. Infidelity usually causes pain, which can have emotionally devastating effects. It’s okay if you feel like you’re grieving because you very well may be. Human loss can take many different forms, and no one has the right to minimize your grief. Take heart, though; you can recover. You two can resolve the affair if you two decide to. However, both parties must be prepared to put in the effort required to heal. You might believe that you are beginning to heal as the one who cheated, but remember that it may take longer than you would like for your partner to grieve and be triggered. It is beneficial to sit with their suffering, be open with them, and periodically assess their emotional health. You might experience signs of post-traumatic stress disorder. Discovering cheating can be a mental shock to the system you’ve developed as a couple, as opposed to a physical shock like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
