Secret Facts About an Emotional Affair You Need to Know

Infidelity in an emotional affair occurs when a person develops a strong attraction and shares deep intimacy, with someone who isn’t his/her partner. In most cases, no physical intimacy is involved because the individuals never get the chance to meet in reality.

An emotional affair is likely to occur in a marriage where a spouse is always busy and spends little or no time with the other. Due to such an attitude, the other spouse might start feeling lonely and unloved. In such a state, he/she becomes vulnerable to either a physical or emotional affair.

Cheating has become very easy due to technological advancement. When you are feeling lonely and wish to flirt, with just some clicks on your phone, you will find thousands of people available to flirt with you. While some people are of the opinion that flirting on social media with strangers isn’t infidelity since most of the times they don’t meet with the individual.  Well, I don’t support such an opinion because just like physical affairs, the discovery of an emotional affair can cause damages to the marital bond.

How to know when you are in an emotional affair

Are you always chatting with someone on social media? Do you delete the chat thread so that your spouse wouldn’t see it? Have you been sexting a friend, co-worker or neighbor? Is there someone you are always thinking about even while you are with your spouse? If yes, then that’s a sign that you are into an emotional affair.

Is there any difference between an emotional and physical affair?

The only difference is the lack of physical contact between the two persons involved.  This can only be temporary because if the affair is allowed to last longer there is every possibility that the individuals might meet and have sex.

Emotional affairs are known to last longer than physical affairs because emotions don’t die easily. Anyone who finds himself drawn to an outsider on an emotional level should consider the possible consequences of such an affair.

The impact of emotional infidelity

It usually starts with a platonic friendship which can be born at the workplace or on social media. Due to steady communication, the bond of friendship gets stronger. Most people fail to realize the trap in such friendship not until when their emotions have gotten entangled.

When a married woman gets involved emotionally with an outsider, she becomes emotionally disconnected from her husband. She starts spending more time secretly with her lover either physically or on the phone. She could even share her personal and marital issues with this so-called friend. Then gradually her husband would start feeling ignored especially when the wife becomes inaccessible. Emotional affairs are very dangerous and could eventually lead to a divorce.

Other signs of an emotional affair include;

• He/she starts criticizing you.
• He/she becomes secretive and starts using passwords on their phones and computers.
• He/she starts mentioning the name of a particular friend very often.
• He/she seems to always work extra hours on a “project” with this friend.

Which one hurts more?

Although every form of infidelity is known to provoke pain, loss of trust, and result in suffering but some persons confessed that an emotional infidelity is more hurtful. According to Yvonne, a therapist at The Affair Clinic, Men find it harder to forgive physical affair than an emotional affair while women find it harder to forgive an emotional affair than a physical one. This is because men hate it when another man gains entrance into the body of their partner while women hate when a woman gains entrance into the heart of her man.

How do I avoid emotional infidelity?

Although there are different views on how to protect your marriage from an emotional affair, it can only be possible if the couple decide to work together and build their relationship on a solid foundation.

How close are you to your partner? Are you her best friend? Do you always listen to what she has to say or you prefer to hush her? Do you always judge her? These are some of the attitudes that create an emotional gap between the couple thereby making it easier for a third party to come in.

To avoid an emotional affair the couple should establish a healthy communication, be honest about their feelings and continuously show affection to each other. When was the last time you told your wife that she’s the prettiest woman on earth? Everyone loves compliments so If you aren’t telling her sweet things then she is likely to fall in love with an outsider who constantly showers her with praises.

No matter how busy your schedule might be, ensure to spend time with your spouse. Discover those little but unique things that you can do to please him/her. Be your partner’s best friend and it would be difficult for him/her to get involved in an emotional affair.

Sources:

• https://metro.co.uk/2017/07/14/which-is-worse-physical-cheating-or-emotional-cheating-6778630/?ito=cbshare
• https://www.elitedaily.com/dating/physical-infidelity-vs-emotional-lesser-two-evils
• https://www.liveabout.com/emotional-affair-and-a-physical-affair-1102788