When it comes to relationships, cheating is a hot button issue. And while there are many different types of cheating, emotional cheating is one that can often be the most difficult to define – and also the most difficult to forgive.
So what exactly is emotional cheating? And where should you draw the line when it comes to your own relationship?
What Is Emotional Cheating?
In its simplest form, emotional cheating can be defined as any type of behaviour or communication that violates the trust or intimacy in a relationship.
This can include things like flirting with someone outside of the relationship, sharing secrets or personal thoughts with someone other than your partner, or even communicating online or via text message with someone you’re attracted to.
In some cases, emotional cheating can also involve physical contact – like hugging or kissing someone you’re not in a relationship with. However, it’s important to note that emotional cheating does not necessarily have to include physical contact to be harmful to a relationship.
Why Is Emotional Cheating So Damaging?
One of the main reasons why emotional cheating can be so damaging is because it often leads to a feeling of betrayal.
Sharing your deepest thoughts and feelings with someone other than your partner can make them feel like they’re not important enough to you – or that you don’t trust them enough to confide in them.
This feeling of betrayal can be even more pronounced if the person you’re emotional cheating on is also your best friend.
In this case, not only do they feel like they’re not important enough to you, but they also feel like they’ve lost someone they trusted implicitly – which can be incredibly difficult to deal with.
How to Deal With Emotional Cheating
If you think your partner may be guilty of emotional cheating, the first step is to talk to them about it. If they’re truly sorry for what they’ve done, then there’s a good chance that your relationship can recover from the incident.
However, if they’re unwilling to talk about what happened or they continue to cheat emotionally, then it may be time to consider ending the relationship.
In some cases, this form of cheating can be a sign of a larger problem in the relationship – like a lack of communication or intimacy. If this is the case, then it may be necessary to seek out professional help in order to save your relationship.
You can repair your relationship, but it’s important, to be honest with each other about what’s wrong and be willing to put in the work to fix it.