{"id":14332,"date":"2011-12-15T16:19:53","date_gmt":"2011-12-15T16:19:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/2011\/12\/6-steps-for-dealing-with-a-cheating-spouse\/"},"modified":"2011-12-15T16:19:53","modified_gmt":"2011-12-15T16:19:53","slug":"6-steps-for-dealing-with-a-cheating-spouse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/12\/15\/6-steps-for-dealing-with-a-cheating-spouse\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Steps For Dealing With A Cheating Spouse"},"content":{"rendered":"

He cheated. Now what? If you\u2019ve recently discovered your spouse was unfaithful, your head is probably spinning. To help you handle the initial shock and avoid an anxiety-induced meltdown, we\u2019ve put together six survival strategies for dealing with a cheater.<\/p>\n

For expert input, we turned to argument and affairs expert Sharon Rivkin, author of Breaking the Argument Cycle: How to Stop Fighting Without Therapy. She outlines six steps to follow when you first find out your partner has cheated.<\/p>\n

Take deep breaths
Finding out that your partner has cheated can be a serious shock, especially if you didn\u2019t suspect or see it coming. Ward off panic by taking some really deep breaths, Rivkin advises. This may seem like an overly simplistic first step, but it’s an extremely effective way to help shift from panic mode to functionality. Unless you breathe deeply, you\u2019re going to continually feed your panic and it will be much harder to calm down. \u201cWhen you\u2019re not breathing deeply, your brain is deprived of oxygen and your body tenses, feeding the cycle,\u201d she explains. \u201cThe probability of making bad decisions increases.\u201d<\/p>\n

Confront the cheater
Depending on how you found out, you need to confront the cheater. Sitting on the information isn\u2019t going to make you feel any better, but how you choose to deal with the betrayal is an individual decision. Who you are, how you found out, what your relationship is like with your partner, how much shock you\u2019re in, etc., will all be factors that lead you to decide what you want to do right after you\u2019ve found out that your partner is cheating, explains Rivkin. \u201cYour whole world has fallen apart, similar to experiencing an earthquake or natural disaster, so do what your instincts dictate,\u201d she says. \u201cDo not judge or be hard on yourself for whatever you choose to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Think about logistics
Even though you’re in the midst of a relationship crisis, life still goes on. Things need to get done (going to work, getting the kids to school, chores), but it can all feel like a huge task. \u201cNothing comes easily right now,\u201d Rivkin says. Feeling overwhelmed is normal, but don\u2019t let that feeling overtake your day-to-day life, especially if you have kids.<\/p>\n

If you have kids, and if they see you crying and\/or fighting, let them know immediately that it has nothing to do with them.
If you feel immobilized and simply can\u2019t drive your kids to school and\/or their activities, make arrangements for them until you feel you are okay to drive.<\/p>\n

\u201cRemember, you\u2019re in crisis mode, so be kind to yourself by getting some temporary help with basic functioning,\u201d says Rivkin.<\/p>\n

Create a support team
Because of the deep damage to trust that this kind of betrayal brings, it’s important that, if you can afford it, you find a good therapist and get help as soon as possible. \u201cI\u2019ve discovered that the couples who seek help the quickest after an affair have the best recovery results,\u201d Rivkin says. Good therapy can help a couple determine their direction (to stay or go) and whether trust can be rebuilt or not. In addition to seeking professional help, creating your support team will be a huge help. \u201cYour team and connections will help you survive and recover from the affair quicker,\u201d she explains. “Carefully assess your relationships with others to figure out who you think will be the most understanding, nonjudgmental and supportive person.”<\/p>\n

Ask questions
After you\u2019ve confronted your partner about the affair, tons of questions will flood your mind (Why didn\u2019t I know? Why didn\u2019t I trust my intuition? Why did this happen?). It’s through asking questions and feeling all your feelings that the healing starts, Rivkin says. “The questions and their answers are the first step to piecing together what happened to your relationship.” It’s important to look at the history and the patterns of your relationship and begin to understand where the breach of trusting each other really started.<\/p>\n

Create a plan of no action
Most people usually have the tendency to want to take some kind of action right after discovering a cheating partner. It may help for the moment, but because you\u2019re in crisis, your judgment can be impaired, so it\u2019s wise not to make any big decisions at this time, Rivkin explains. Instead, make the smaller decisions first: Get a therapist, read a book, talk to your support system, do some writing and do some talking with your partner. \u201cYou will ultimately have some major decisions to make as to what direction you want your relationship to go, but these decisions will be made with time and clarity,\u201d she says. So for now, don\u2019t make any major decisions.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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