|
Emotional Infidelity What It Is And How To Recognize It |
|
Written by Elizabeth Fitz
|
|
Saturday, 03 October 2009 12:43 |
|
Emotional infidelity is often the first step to a partner cheating. Some people consider it cheating in it's own right - it has been used in divorce proceedings in the US. A relationship is more than just physical fidelity. It is about the bond two people have, that they forge together over time.
by ElizabethFitz
Emotional infidelity is often the first step to a partner cheating. Some people consider it cheating in it's own right - it has been used in divorce proceedings in the US. A relationship is more than just physical fidelity. It is about the bond two people have, that they forge together over time.
The emotional part of a relationship goes deep inside and forms a strong connection, which is why emotional infidelity is so devastating. The bond goes far beyond the physical aspects, it is what makes a relationship a relationship. It is about sharing thoughts and feelings, sharing your soul with one another.
When your significant other begins to form those emotional and mental bonds with someone outside the marriage, this is what is called emotional infidelity. It nearly always means there is a withdrawing from the first relationship.
You end up being a stranger in your own relationship rather than your partners friend and confidant. This coldness can be awful to deal with, and may even be hard to define. You may feel that you are the one at fault.
Emotional infidelity means forming bonds, the bonds that were previously with you, with someone else. This is part of what makes it difficult to identify. There is nothing obvious going on, no sleeping with another person, no sneaking off to see someone else. This is why emotional infidelity is difficult to prove, there can be little or no evidence.
However, there is one big sign - and that is a sexual chemistry between two people, with flirting and teasing going on. It will seem very innocent because of course, there is nothing physical going on, but emotional infidelity will mean that the person behaves in a different way.
If you do suspect emotional infidelity, you need to keep some things in mind. Many people have close friends, best buddies if they are a man, and girlfriends if they are a woman. Some people have friends of the opposite sex, and they may confide in them frequently.
None of that is necessarily emotional infidelity. With emotional infidelity, the one huge sign is guilt. The red flag that someone is becoming involved with another person emotionally is when they start to try and hide what is going on. No-one who is innocently chatting with a friend needs to hide what is going on from their significant other. When they are hiding something you can safely assume that there is something to hide.
Emotional infidelity is a problem on it's own; but it is also an early sign that the relationship is going badly wrong. The next step along from emotional infidelity is physical infidelity. If you can recognise and take steps at the emotional infidelity stage, then you will have an easier time than if you try and sort things out further along the line.
The two big signs are emotional disengagement and secretive behavior. If your significant other is pulling away from you, becoming distant or hostile, this is a big sign. Likewise, if they are acting suspiciously, hiding phone calls and emails, avoiding questions and just generally acting like they have a secret, this is a sign.
Emotional infidelity is best caught as early as possible in order to have a good chance at fixing it. It is not easy but if you feel there could be emotional infidelity in your relationship, then you need to get advice as soon as possible, and instruction on how to fix your relationship.
|
