How Does Infidelity Affect a Relationship?
Betrayal of Trust A relationship is based on people trusting one another. Once a partner betrays that trust by infidelity, the effects on a relationship are devastating. Where there used to be trust, there is suspicion. This replaces love and affection and loyalty is broken down, sometimes irretrievably. Feelings of anger and distance take the place of togetherness. Trust is nonexistent for the partner who has been lied to, humiliated and used as a doormat. Long awkward silences, crying and feelings of resentment, fill the mind until the thoughts become obsessive. The partner who has been cheated on has to know where the unfaithful partner is at all times, because it is difficult to trust to the degree of trust before the infidelity took place. Initially, all trust may be temporarily lost. Counseling Counseling may help to a certain degree, to make the cheated partner feel easier about experiencing feelings of negativity, which are absolutely normal in this type of situation. The offen