Infidelity

Forgiveness does not come easy.

Navigating the aftermath of infidelity is a complex and emotionally charged journey, one that can take on various stages and challenges.

It is a lengthy process, from the initial shock of discovery to rebuilding trust and healing. Each step demands careful consideration and often professional guidance.

In your wildest dreams, you never considered being in this position, knowing that your partner cheated on you.

This knowledge makes you start second-guessing everything they’ve said or done, or worse, you begin to second-guess everything you’ve said or done.

What are the four stages of infidelity?

Infidelity has four stages, including the following:

Discovery: This involves discovering infidelity and learning what happened. Estimated time ranges from zero to six weeks.

The reaction: This is the stage where one is grieving the loss of trust in the relationship and loss of relationship. Attachment distress happens here as there has been a broken attachment. Searching for the “Why” occurs, making you say things like, “Why did this happen? Why did my partner do this? Where did my love go?”

The release: This stage involves releasing difficult emotions you may have confronted in the “Reaction Stage.” This stage consists of processing forgiveness, repairing the relationship, building trust, learning new communication methods, and increasing understanding.

The recommitment: The marriage of the couple’s partnership becomes solidified, allowing for the establishment of a recommitment to one another. Marital satisfaction occurs and is significantly higher when healing has occurred, strengthening the relationship partnership.

Does infidelity mean the relationship is over?

I cannot answer that for you because it is different for every person and every relationship. I can, however, help with moving forward. It is difficult to place a timeline for healing, as healing from infidelity is different for every couple.

While we do not want to focus on the infidelity, we do want to figure out why it happened. Infidelity is usually the endpoint, not the beginning. Therefore, it is essential to understand what led up to that point.

Once we gain that understanding, we work on trust and forgiveness. This work is typically the longest part of therapy and can be very emotional, but getting through it is the only way. Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts in this process. But together, we can get to a point of resolution.

You owe it to each other to try to work through infidelity and regain trust and the viable relationship you once had. Contact me today at (931) 553-9750 for more information on how I can help.