When we say affair, you’re thinking secret hotel hook-ups, phone passwords that can’t be cracked before the S.O finishes filling up petrol, and long legged blondes with the derriere the rappers sing about.
But cheating isn’t only the physical. Emotional cheating is the most common type of affair with Couples Therapy revealing 45% of men and 35% of women admitted to being involved in emotional cheating.
Yes, liking another girl’s Instagram photo is cheating – do not question us.
This is 20% more than people who admit to physical affairs!
These days, people are so busy with daily tasks they don’t take the time to emotionally connect with their partners.
Relationship expert and psychologist Vijayeta Sinh says, “We can be eating dinner with a friend, and chatting with another on Facebook. Most of us wake up and check our phones before we even say good morning to the person sleeping next to us.
“We stop seeing our partner as an emotional being and more as a person who helps us complete tasks and meet obligations. When this happens, it can be very tempting to seek support elsewhere.”
We’re sending our partners to boarding school because Health Research Funding tells us that 60% of emotional affairs begin at work.
Dating and relationship coach, David Wygant says, “even though you’re not sleeping with him or her, there’s flirting and definitely something going on.
“You’re reaching out to this person because you really need to feel connected.”
This can be detrimental to a relationship because what is supposed to be open and honest communication becomes hidden feelings for someone else.
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Gal Szekely, the founder of the Couples Center, says, “In many cases you begin to have a bias and start seeing this other person in a good light your partner in a negative light, even becoming annoyed or frustrated.”
It is important to value your partner and relationship and not take each other for granted. The relationship exists because there is love and this is often forgotten.
Kayce Hodos, a professional counsellor suggests “talk(ing) to your significant other the minute you sense some distance because it will only get worse if you don’t confront it.”
Often, there are underlying weaknesses in a relationship that push forward emotional affairs.
Addressing this weakness is key to moving forward or revaluating your time together.
Sheri Meyers, a marriage therapist says this can bring, “stable footing to your relationship and start infusing it with the love, attention, appreciation, and affection you and your partner both deserve.”
Written by Shaymah Alkhair
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