Infidelity breaks trust, and once trust is broken it is very difficult to repair. In fact, infidelity is a form of relational abuse. Knowingly and willingly seeking romantic relationships outside of a committed bond means knowing one is hurting their partner. This can be emotionally devastating.
Partners who are constantly subjected to infidelity and feel as if they are constantly being lied to or have to play detective to figure out what’s going on behind their backs can develop post-traumatic stress disorder if they finally choose to break free. Part of this will likely include an inability to trust future partners should they leave, a noticeable need to keep one’s guard up in future bonds, and a fear of intimacy, among other lasting effects.
Because those living with PTSD in the aftermath of an unfaithful relationship find it difficult to trust new partners, sometimes self-sabotaging behaviors can unwillingly ensue. They may engage in paranoid behaviors including increased jealousy, undue inquisitiveness, and even stalking their partners at work, on social media, or by hacking into their personal devices. Obviously, this is not a solid foundation for any last relationship, and thus, once these behaviors are discovered, an innocent partner is likely to leave.
If an individual does not seek help for their symptoms, they are likely to be heartbroken time and again by engaging in the same toxic cycles. Thus, it is important to find support in family, friends, and professionals to reduce negative feelings, while establishing healthy boundaries with partners so that a bond has room to grow and prosper.
Just as any other circumstance that induce PTSD, a victim of infidelity didn’t ask for an affair to happen and didn’t ask for the painful consequences that linger long after. But, it’s important to know inject this negativity into future partnerships. It is important to spend time working on oneself, from the inside out, before jumping headfirst into another bond. Self-rediscovery is needed before discovering who anyone else is, and once a healthy self-concept is re-established, a healthy relationship can follow.