Unfortunately, infidelity in a relationship is something many of us have had to grapple with over the years. Despite what we may try to show on social media, our relationships are rarely perfect. Sometimes, people we love can hurt us and choose to cheat in an online relationship.
Unlike traditional affairs, there are unique challenges when facing and trying to overcome the effects of online cheating. Here are four ways your relationship might be affected after online infidelity.
Defining Online Infidelity
If you have not experienced online infidelity, you may be wondering exactly what it is. Essentially, online infidelity is simply an act of unfaithfulness that occurs virtually. There is no one set definition. In fact, you should discuss what you define as online infidelity with your partner. For example, would you both consider following an ex-partner cheating? How about viewing sexually explicit content or sending explicit photos to another person? Although conversations like this may be uncomfortable, setting boundaries early in your relationship will keep you from heartbreak down the line.
1. Loss of trust
One of the most obvious ways that infidelity will affect your relationship is a loss of trust. Cheating ruins all faith you have in your partner and will plant seeds of doubt in your mind. You may ask yourself what else your partner kept from you or lied to you about. The partner involved in the infidelity will need to work on assuring the uninvolved partner about their love for them until trust is rebuilt.
2. Lowered self-esteem
Infidelity does not only affect your relationship but also how you view yourself. As the person in the relationship who was acted against, you may feel undesirable. You may ask yourself how you could have been better or done something differently. Remember, you did nothing wrong in this scenario.
3. Problems with your physical relationship
Just because an act of online infidelity occurred virtually, there may still be physical repercussions. Since your partner became accustomed to conducting a relationship completely through a screen, it may prove difficult to rekindle your physical relationship or even get back to the level you were before the unfaithfulness.
4. Affecting future relationships
Regardless of whether or not you stay in your current relationship after the act of cheating, your future will be affected by the act of infidelity. The emotional baggage of being acted against will likely stay with you for quite some time or until you fully heal from the wrongdoing.
Beginning to heal
The good news about infidelity is that it is not necessarily a death sentence for your relationship. If it is something you are willing to work on, then your relationship can be re-established. However, the important thing to remember is that you must choose to forgive your partner who acted unfaithfully.
You are allowed to be angry and grieve the loss of trust you experienced. Still, once you decide to remain in this relationship, you must actively begin to forgive your significant other. This is the only way you will both be able to move on and build an even stronger foundation for your future.
If you discover that you and your partner are willing to work through your relationship troubles, then I am ready to give you a hand. Marriage counseling is a great option to mend the tears of your relationship. Once you have made the choice to get started with a trained professional, you can contact me by filling out the contact form at the top of my website. Remember, there is nothing to be ashamed of, and we can get through this together.