Bouncing Back From Infidelity

Sometimes life can be pretty funny- it throws you a curveball, hands you a lemon, or knocks you for a loop, but being aware how to approach failure can be the first step to success. In life and in relationships, it is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you lived so guardedly that you might as well not have lived at all- in which case, you have failed by default.

You will never truly know yourself or the strength of your relationship, until both of you have been tested by adversity. And nothing can test the marriage more than infidelity. I truly agree that the bitterness that accompanies adversity are truly valuable lessons worth savoring, and if you look harder, sweet opportunity.

Many couples survived infidelity, and they are now living a much
deeper and meaningful relationship. If they can bounce back from infidelity, you can, too.

Here are some tips on how to deal with infidelity:

* Don’t threaten to have a divorce. It may make you feel good to see that look in his face but divorce is a huge step to take and you need time to sort things out first. Give yourself time to think if you want to fix the relationship or not. Driving him away may draw him closer to the other woman. So if you are not sure of your next step, tell him that you can’t decide anything yet.

* Don’t broadcast it to your family. If you are in an intense state of emotion, don’t tell your family first.

You may need their emotional support, but telling them may aggravate the whole situation. When you tell a family member there is a tendency that he or she might demonize your partner. This situation can be awkward for you if you want to reconcile with your partner. The best that you can do when you found out about the infidelity is to confide to a trusted friend or a therapist. But be mindful not to give progress report- a friend can go weary, too.

* Never tell the Children. Children are vulnerable. They are not programmed to cope and understand this kind of complication. They don’t need the extra worry. When it comes to your children, protect and secure them of your love.

* Never confront the other woman. Confronting the other woman doesn’t help and it backfires. This will make her look like the victim and will make your man feel sorry for her instead of you.

* Value yourself. Victims of infidelity are usually prone to self- destructive mechanisms like drinking too much, taking drugs, take revenge, or run around town and defame the name of your cheating partner. Your self-esteem has already taken a big hit; don’t add to it by acting in ways that you might regret later.

When you want to survive infidelity, you have to decide and make conscious effort to save your marriage. When you decide to save your marriage from infidelity, you have to make a decision to move on and not define your union with it. It may seem a painful road to take, but some things are just worth saving.