Cheating has been categorised in recent years to cover not just a physical but also an emotional affair. It could begin as a platonic nice feeling toward another individual and then devolve into something unacceptable. These kinds of situations are becoming more common. According to the data, over 45 percent of men and 35 percent of women have admitted to having an emotional affair.
1. You’re too close to your opposite gender.
Some things are just built for two: love seats at the movies, the Tesla Roadster, a king-size lobster. One of these things is a connection. It’s like adding a third wheel to a bicycle; it’ll only throw the balance off. When that third-wheel is a significant other’s opposite gender pal, the situation may deteriorate.
Again, everything could be alright, but if your intuition tells you that your spouse and their “friend” are attracted to each other, it’s best to confront the issue head on.
It’s important to remember that while attraction isn’t a choice, cheating is. An affair does not appear out of nowhere; you must choose whether or not to proceed down this perilous path.
2. You flirt online and offline.
Virtual relationships with multiple individuals at once are far easier to maintain than real-life relationships. As a result, virtual polygamy and offline monogamy may coexist in the future. It’s happening because the internet makes it easier for strangers to become emotionally involved.
The internet, in many ways, facilitates the same types of relationship-building chances that we enjoy in person. However, anonymous internet flirting, like offline flirtation, is still a thing.
The good news is that you can utilise any social media, messengers, and other tools to deepen your existing relationship and lessen emotional distance with your partner. Healthy internet use between spouses creates bridges rather than walls, and it makes it easier for couples to socialise online. It can be a beneficial kind of further communication.
3. You’re having an affair with your phone.
Before we even say “Good morning!” to the person sleeping next to us, most of us check our phones. This type of being far away yet still being close is potentially harmful since it leads us to believe we are close to someone when we aren’t.
According to a recent poll, nearly four out of ten millennials think their phone is more useful than their significant other. Whoa. Pause. Absorb. This unsettling statistic demonstrates a current reality problem. People are diving into virtual reality with hilarious pets and harsh Tweets instead of chatting to their partner, friend, or family member.
The main reason why our attempts to spend less time on our phones fail so frequently is that we treat them like diets: as acts of self-deprivation. However, no one enjoys self-control, which is why it is so difficult. So try to concentrate on the outcomes you’ll obtain if you reduce your phone usage. Do you agree with this viewpoint?
4. You tell someone else about your partner’s bad behaviour.
It’s natural that you’ll discuss your connection with your friends or family, and that’s OK. It is not acceptable to grumble about your partner on a daily basis. You may think you’re complaining to try to mend your relationship, but you haven’t worked together to confront and resolve the issues. Furthermore, you wind up generating even more distance between you and your partner.
When the other person realises you’ve been privately upset with them, this method can be heartbreaking. Consider what it would be like if you overheard your boyfriend discussing your behaviour or habits with his friends behind your back. It’s understandable that you’d feel misled.
Never be angry at your partner for something they don’t realise they’re doing if you want to break away from bad and destructive aspects of your relationship.
5. You cross the line with strangers.
Because emotional infidelity is intense but invisible, it is just as hazardous as adultery. You may love your partner, but if some of your minor activities cross the line into adultery, you risk losing someone significant in your life.
Taking a solitary trek across the unforgiving terrain can lead to you doing things you wouldn’t ordinarily do, such as cheat. For example, suppose you meet a guy at a pub who flirts with you, flatters you, and gives you something you don’t have in your current relationship. That’s got to be a sign that something isn’t right between you and your partner!
You’ve crossed the line into emotional infidelity if you require someone, especially a stranger, to fill whatever hole you have in your primary relationship. And for your partner, this can be the most agonising sort of infidelity.
6. You have a secret friend.
Regular friendships are usually quite open, so your boyfriend finding a text thread from your BFF is unlikely to raise any red flags. Expecting your spouse to meet all of your needs is neither fair nor feasible. With this in mind, meeting a buddy for a drink and a chat is perfectly OK!
But there’s a catch: if you’re going to such lengths to hide things, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that you’re feeling a little guilty about your want to keep your friendship from your spouse hidden.
Maybe you’re afraid of admitting that your special “buddy” is endangering your relationship. You’re setting yourself up for difficulty with your partner if you’re completely reliant on one person for emotional support and that person isn’t in a meaningful relationship with you. And the only way out is for you to admit it to yourself and figure out why you’re doing it.
7. You dream of other lovers.
One of our culture’s major weaknesses is that we accept everything at face value. We want to believe that every dream we have at night is a true mirror of reality. So, when you have a dream that you’re having se-x with someone who isn’t your partner, your immediate reaction is to worry and think, “I’m having se-x with someone who isn’t my partner!” “No way! This must imply that I don’t truly care about my partner!”
Relax and maintain your composure. It’s perfectly acceptable to fantasise about Jason Momoa’s 6-pack abs or Irina Shayk’s body on occasion. However, if you find yourself dreaming or visualising a se-xual partner other than your husband on a regular basis, you may be on the verge of having an emotional (or perhaps se-xual) affair as a result of your separation from your spouse.
The best way to keep it under control is to freely discuss your se-xual desires and what you enjoy and don’t like in bed with your partner, and have them do the same. Return to the pleasures of se-x with your partner, and it will be difficult to envision yourself with anyone else!
8. You lie about your finances.
It’s been said that a relationship without trust is akin to driving a car without gas. You can stay in it for as long as you like, but it will not move.
According to the findings of a poll of 23,000 online users, more than 60% of men and women believe financial infidelity to be just as vile as physical infidelity. In addition, one-third of those polled believed that financial adultery could lead to se-xual infidelity.
The immediate issue with financial (as with any other) deception is that trust is gone, and the relationship becomes stagnant as a result. As a result, most couples either separate or divorce since living with and relying on someone who doesn’t have your back is simply too difficult. Remember, the love you get from your money account is nothing compared to the love you get from a faithful spouse.
9. You don’t stand up for your partner.
Always work as a team with your spouse. So, when things get bad, you can rest assured that you have someone to lean on.
However, if your partner refuses to defend you, it’s probable that he isn’t interested in continuing the relationship. The only way to get him to defend you is to be open and honest with him about how you feel and what you expect from him.
Giving your relationship a second opportunity requires you to recognise that from the moment you realised that “That concludes our discussion. I adore her or him! “You made your decision. It signifies that your spouse has taken over the privileged position of first honour in your life. So, make it clear to your family and friends that there is a line they must not cross when it comes to your significant other and your relationship.
What are your thoughts on these non-physical cheating methods? In a partnership, how do you define faithfulness? Please share your thoughts and stories in the comments area below!
Illustrated by Alena Sofronova for Bright Side
