Should I let go of my cheating spouse? How do you know when to walk away after infidelity? Can a marriage survive infidelity? Should I stay after being cheated on? If you are looking for answers to these or any more infidelity questions, this article is for you.
Hi. My name is Sean Galla. I am a facilitator of support groups and support forums for men, with more than 10 years of experience. My job as a relationship expert includes facilitating support forums for men, including relationship and marriage support forums.
In these forums, men come together for advice, guidance, and support for different issues affecting men, including infidelity. If you are looking for advice about cheating or how to handle infidelity in marriage, joining a support group is the first step in the right direction.
In this article, you will find information that can help you better understand how to handle infidelity and also know when to walk away after infidelity.
Table of Contents:
The Aftermath of Infidelity in Relationships
When you first meet someone and got into a new relationship, the last thing on your mind is that this person can even consider cheating on you. However, you have been together for a while, whether married or in a long-term healthy relationship, and you discover that the person you love has been unfaithful.
Without a doubt, cheating is one of the most challenging phases any relationship can go through, whether it is an emotional affair or a physical one. If you have just discovered that your spouse is cheating, you probably feel angry, anxious, and devastated, and the only thing you want is for the hurting to stop and heal your broken heart. When not properly processed, these negative emotions can cause you to make decisions in haste, which will impact your life and relationship.
When you are on the receiving end of an unfaithful partner, you are faced with the dilemma of what to do, whether to stay or leave. Apart from the hurt feelings, you get after learning your spouse has been unfaithful, determining when to walk away after infidelity is a harder truth to face. It is normal to feel confused as you go through a whirlwind of emotions.
Most people struggle with whether to get divorced, end a partnership, or stay after infidelity. The first thing most people wonder about is whether a marriage can survive infidelity.
You can also read our article How to Catch a Cheating Wife and follow mensgroup.com now.
Can a Marriage Survive Infidelity?
There are no right or wrong answers to this question. This is because every relationship is different and involves two unique people. For some, infidelity is non-negotiable and strong grounds for divorce or separation, while for others, it is seen as something they can workaround.
The truth is that some couples can recover from infidelity while others cannot. You are best placed to evaluate your relationship and determine whether you want to stay or walk away.
Going by divorce statistics, most married couples that survive infidelity have had to go through marriage counseling. A marriage counselor acts as an intermediary to help them make informed decisions after the fact. According to the American Psychological Association, 53% of marriages end in divorce within five years of extramarital affairs.
Only about half of the couples that seek help completely heal from a partner’s infidelity and remain married longer than five years. The to the research, most couples show improvement in their relationship within six months of seeing a marriage counselor. However, these positive results fade in time, which may lead to divorce thereafter.
These numbers show that divorce is prevalent after a partner’s cheating, discouraging most couples from trying to make their marriage work after an affair. However, it is not to say that a marriage cannot survive infidelity, as some do.
If you find it hard to determine whether to try to save your marriage or walk away, here is how to tell when to walk away after infidelity.
On the other hand, if you’re searching for signs of a Cheating Girlfriend, follow mensgroup.com now
Crucial Factors to Consider Before Walking Away After Infidelity
The quality of your relationship
The quality of any relationship depends on the couple’s history and can be used to determine whether to try and restore it after infidelity. If you have been in a fulfilling long-term relationship, then it may be wise to first dig deeper into the affair to understand why your partner cheaters.
On the other hand, if your relationship has mostly been marked with streaks of betrayal from your partner, it is likely that the cheating will repeat, which makes saving the relationship a more challenging task.
Emotional involvement
Before deciding on whether to walk away or stay after infidelity, it is ideal to consider your emotional involvement in the situation. How you feel about your spouse after an affair can help you make the right decision. If the love has been replaced by ignorance, apathy, and hurt, walking away may be the best way for you to find healing.
The cheating partner’s dating history
It is often said that patterns do not lie. Has your partner been unfaithful before? Are they prone to breaking trust in all their relationships? If your answer yes to both questions, you should know that you are in a relationship with a serial cheater who will probably cheat again.
On the other hand, if this is the first time your spouse is cheating, it can signify deep-rooted issues in your relationship. Sometimes, addressing these issues and rebuilding trust can help to eliminate cheating from your relationship.
The cheating partner’s reaction
How your partner behaves after they cheat can also help in decision-making. Do they show remorse and regret their behavior? Are they committed to ensuring it never happens again? Are they still in contact with the person they cheated with? Are they willing to get the necessary help to deal with their issues? All these are important factors that can help you make the right decision for yourself and your relationship.
You can also read our article Narcissistic Wife and follow mensgroup.com now.
When to Walk Away After Infidelity
When you find out that your spouse has been cheating, most people go looking for crucial warning signs in the relationship that can make walking away easier. Here are red flags that can signify the end of a marriage or relationship and when to walk away after infidelity.
Your partner will not take responsibility for their actions
If your partner refuses to take responsibility for their cheating and instead shifts the blame on you and gaslighting, it may be best to walk away. In fact, you can take this as a warning flag about your relationship and what to expect in the future if you decide to stay and that you may be in a relationship with a narcissist. Most narcissistic cheating partners shift blame and accuse you of stressing them out, being distracted, disrespectful, inattentive, or unavailable, which causes them to stray.
They won’t apologize
For a relationship to start healing after infidelity, the cheating partner should be willing to make amends. If they refuse to express remorse and apologize for their behavior, it may be a sign that you are in a toxic relationship and it is best to walk away. If they cannot find the time to apologize, you have no reason to believe the affair won’t happen again in the future. Walking away may be the best way to protect yourself.
They refuse to seek help
Marriage counseling is one of the greatest assets to any happy marriage. If your partner refuses to see a marriage counselor after an affair, it may signify the end of your marriage and their unwillingness to make things work. It becomes even harder to get through this rough patch in your relationship without counseling. Most couples divorce after infidelity if they do not go for counseling.
You feel overwhelmed by trying to fix the relationship
As the betrayed partner, making a relationship work after infidelity can be draining and numbing. If you are tired of constantly trying to fix a relationship, it may be time to consider walking away. If you feel that you no longer care for the relationship, you have probably had enough.
They still keep in touch with their lover
Even though your partner may show remorse and willingness to change to make the relationship work, you should consider it a red flag if they are still in touch with the person they cheated with. They will probably reconnect if they are still talking, and the affair will happen again. It is perhaps best for you to walk away.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for signs of a Narcissistic Girlfriend, follow mensgroup.com
Lack of intimacy
After infidelity, most cheating spouses will work to ensure they restore intimacy to your committed relationship, as this is helpful through the healing process. If you are still finding it hard to connect intimately with your loved one, it may be a sign of a lack of trust and attraction caused by the affair. If you cannot find a way back to intimacy, it may be best to end the relationship.
You find it hard to get over the betrayal
Sometimes, getting over the betrayal becomes impossible, even with counseling and a partner willing to do anything to win back your trust. Inability to look past the betrayal is a sign that you should consider walking away after infidelity. If the affair cut your heart too deep for it to heal with the same person, walking away may be the only way you truly heal.
If you are a man finding it hard to move on after an affair, joining a support group like mensgroup.com is an ideal step to take to find healing and make the best decision for your relationship.
About MensGroup
Men associate infidelity in their relationship with a lack of respect and failure. This makes it hard for them to speak about their insecurities, feelings, and emotions after being cheated on.
If you are a man married to a cheating spouse, mensgroup.com offers a safe space to share, learn, and heal. This is an all-men online infidelity support group where you meet other male survivors of infidelity.
Here, members can share in confidence and without fear of judgment. Men hurt too, and at Men’s Group, you have a place to vent and find healing.
Conclusion
Finding out that you are married to a cheater is heartbreaking for any man. The best way to heal the hurt caused by a cheating spouse is by joining a support group. Support groups for infidelity survivors offer a safe place that works to see you through the healing process. At MensGroup, we will guide you through the healing process and overcome the trauma caused by a cheating spouse.
*Sources: 1. When to Walk Away After Infidelity 2. When to walk away after infidelity: Signs you are falling out of love 3. When To Walk Away After Infidelity (9 Serious Considerations) 4. When to Walk Away After Infidelity: 7 Signs It Might Be Time To Leave 5. Infidelity And Divorce: When to Walk Away After Infidelity (NEW Guide)
