Does Infidelity Pain Ever Go Away?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Does infidelity pain ever go away? Research shows

it takes about eighteen months to two years to heal from the pain of your partner’s infidelity

. Knowing that the pain isn’t going away overnight can be helpful, and knowing that it will eventually end is also valuable in the healing process.

How do I let go of pain caused by infidelity?

  1. Forgiveness is key. …
  2. Decide to forgive your partner. …
  3. Be prepared for bad thoughts. …
  4. Don’t use your partner’s infidelity as ammunition. …
  5. Understand that you may never understand. …
  6. Don’t seek retribution.

What percentage of couples recover from infidelity?

“In general, more than half the relationships (55 percent) ended immediately after one partner admits to cheating, with 30 percent deciding to stay together but breaking up eventually, and only

15 percent

of couples able to successfully recover from infidelity,” says Leo.

Can you ever fully recover from infidelity?

How long does it take to heal after infidelity?

Affair recovery is the process of healing a relationship mentally, emotionally, and physically after it has experienced infidelity. Affair recovery usually takes anywhere from

six months to two years

and is often a painful process yet a possible one for couples who possess humility, compassion, and tenacity.

How Do I Stop overthinking after being cheated on?

  1. Work Through Your Feelings. …
  2. Don’t Blame Yourself. …
  3. Don’t Live in the Past. …
  4. Think About What You Want. …
  5. Take Care of Yourself. …
  6. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help.

How long does Betrayal Trauma last?

Recovering from betrayal trauma is not something that can be done in a day or two. On average, it usually takes between

eighteen months to three years

to absolutely recover, especially with a lot of help and moral support.

When should you not forgive a cheating spouse?

  • Your Partner Doesn’t Apologize. …
  • Your Spouse Doesn’t Want to Get Counseling. …
  • Your Partner Doesn’t Show Desire to Put in the Work. …
  • They are Still in Touch with the Person They Cheated on You With. …
  • Your Partner Doesn’t Seem Committed to the Relationship.

Can affairs be true love?

A love affair is about that initial “in love” feeling, that point in a relationship when someone is blinded to the other person’s flaws. By its very nature, a love affair prolongs those feelings of infatuation.

People engaged in an affair spend little “real” time together.

How does cheating affect a man?

Infidelity can have lasting impacts on partners and children the couple may have.

Grief, brain changes, behaviors down the road, and mental health conditions such as anxiety, chronic stress, and depression

can result. Some families have been able to move past infidelity with time and therapy.

Why do people cheat on people they love?

People can cheat on someone they love due to

neglect, commitment or self-esteem issues, lack of intimacy, or even revenge

. A person who cheated once will likely cheat again, but this is not true for everyone. Infidelity doesn’t signify the end of a relationship; a couple can repair their relationship after an affair.

Do cheaters feel guilty?


Among men, 68% feel guilty after having an affair

. Even if they haven’t confessed the affair, most cheating husbands will feel guilty and express that guilt in their behavior. You may notice subtle changes in their behavior that make you wonder if your spouse is displaying cheating husband guilt.

What does cheating say about a person?


They lack respect towards others

.

Besides a lack of self-esteem, a cheater lacks respect towards others. The two are closely related. After all, if someone doesn’t even respect themselves, how can they respect other people? A cheater engages in unethical behavior that hurts their partner by being unfaithful.

How do you heal from infidelity trauma?

  1. Acknowledge instead of avoid. Healing often requires you to first come to terms with what happened. …
  2. Practice accepting difficult emotions. Plenty of unpleasant emotions can show up in the aftermath of betrayal. …
  3. Turn to others for support. …
  4. Focus on what you need.

How can I be happy after being cheated on?

  1. Deal with your grief. “Try to manage your feelings as they pop up. …
  2. Talk it out. …
  3. Rebalance the positives and negatives. …
  4. Accept the hurt. …
  5. Try and see the bigger picture. …
  6. Surround yourself with people who make you smile. …
  7. Prioritise self-care. …
  8. Get outside.

What does cheating do to the brain?

This betrayal can

cause our brains to become desensitized to dishonesty

, which can lead to more cheating in the future. Cheating can also damage our brain’s ability to process information accurately, leading to poorer decision-making. In addition, cheating can impact our ability to form and maintain relationships.

How does cheating affect a woman?

They affect the other partner both physically and mentally, making them experience;

Anxiety and depression

. Rage and posttraumatic stress (PTSD) Increased distress, self-blame, and shame.

Can you get PTSD from infidelity?

What are the 5 stages of betrayal?

Can you get PTSD from betrayal?


The signs and symptoms of Betrayal Trauma vary, but generally include symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

, such as: Intrusive thoughts and images. Nightmares or flashbacks. Avoidance behaviors.

How long does depression last after infidelity?


6 months

: Anywhere between 3-6 months is a good time to start dealing with the core of the affair. It is a grieving period, and it may also be a time of heavy discussion or arguing between spouses. But, it’s important to start understanding the root of the problems that caused one spouse to cheat.

What kind of cheating is unforgivable?

Unforgivable:

Cheating That Involves Deceit

As Dr. Odessky says, “Cheating that requires major attempts at coverups is more damaging to the relationship because it is emotionally abusive to the partner to deny their reality that something is amiss. This type of betrayal is the most damaging and difficult to get over.”

Why you should never forgive infidelity?

How do affairs usually end?

Affairs usually end in one of three ways:

divorce and remarriage, divorce and relationship loss, or the recommitment to the relationship that was betrayed

.

Why are affairs so addictive?

According to psychologist and relationship researcher Scott Haltzmann, infidelity is a “flame addiction.” A person having an affair craves the other person, wanting to experience the same addictive behavior repeatedly. This is

due to a series of complex neurological, chemical, and hormonal changes

.

Do affairs ever end well?

According to WebMD, the “in love” stage of an affair lasts 6 to 18 months, on average. And

around 75% of the marriages that start as affairs end in divorce

. Considering only 5 to 7% of affair relationships lead to marriage, that’s a grim statistic for couples hoping their affairs will last forever.

Can you cheat and still love your spouse?

How do you tell if he is remorseful after cheating?

Signs Your Partner Is Truly Remorseful


They don’t make vague statements or blanket apologies

. They show their remorse by doing things that they feel will lessen your pain. It’s about both words and actions. They hold themselves accountable, rather than relying on you to do so.

Does cheating affect karma?

How do you heal from infidelity trauma?

Why do guys cheat even if they love you?

Men and women can cheat even if they love their partner. They may do so because

their emotional needs aren’t being met, they have low self-esteem, or if there are serious problems within your relationship or in their life

. It may be easier for them to cheat than talk about how they are feeling.

How do you heal from infidelity trauma?

How do you heal a broken heart after cheating?

  1. Be gentle with yourself. …
  2. Regain faith in who you are. …
  3. Stop asking questions. …
  4. Communicate your feelings and needs. …
  5. Plan your emotional recovery.
Leah Jackson
Author
Leah Jackson
Leah is a relationship coach with over 10 years of experience working with couples and individuals to improve their relationships. She holds a degree in psychology and has trained with leading relationship experts such as John Gottman and Esther Perel. Leah is passionate about helping people build strong, healthy relationships and providing practical advice to overcome common relationship challenges.