Infidelity can and will cause damage with any relationship, in large part because the trust and intimate nature of the relationship has been broken or compromised. You need to decide whether the actions of cheating have caused irreparable damage or whether it’s worth the rebuilding process.
Working it Out
Your relationship has changed, and it may never revert back to what you thought it was. However, although the odds are slim, the relationship can be mended over time if both individuals are willing to work as a team in its reconstruction. Repairing a relationship after infidelity is not for everyone and quite frankly most relationships do not survive after infidelity has been revealed.
For those who do want to try and salvage their relationship it will take a lot of time, energy, and patience. Trust may be fragile at first and in some cases trust may never again be attainable. You need to try and focus on the positive aspects of your partner and what made you happy previously. This glimmer can provide the spark to work through your issues.
Let your partner explain the reasons for their betrayal. You may not agree with their reasoning however it is good practice to understand their point of view; doing so may cause behavioral changes that strengthen your relationship. You must move forward and part of that movement is accepting an honest apology. Your pain may linger however without acceptance and forgiveness you won’t be able to turn the page and begin anew.
When to End It
If you can’t accept and/or get over the infidelity, which is your right regardless of the circumstances, it may be best to cut your losses and instead of prolonging the inevitable. If you continue to find yourself suspicious of their behavior, the breach of trust will not allow a new chapter of the relationship to grow and your efforts will remain fruitless.
It is often the case that no matter how hard you try, you’ll never be truly happy because the level of trust cannot reach the same level it was at before cheating occurred. Such feelings are warranted, because in our experience the vast majority of cheaters do not change their ways after they are caught rather they are simply more cautious moving forward.
Infidelity can be a momentary mistake – an imperfection – that can be worked through and sometimes can result in a better & healthier relationship. However, more often than not it is indicative of an underlying flaw within the relationship that may be too difficult to resolve.
