Infidelity is one of the most devastating events you can go through. Unfortunately, adultery in the UK is quite common.
There were 107,599 divorces among opposite-sex couples and 822 among same-sex couples in 2019. Both figures are higher than the recorded cases in 2018. Most of these people cited unreasonable behaviour as their ground for divorce. This includes adultery.
If your spouse committed adultery, there’s no easy way to deal with the situation. You may develop mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression. So you must take measures to protect your mental health.
How to Protect Your Mental Health While Dealing With Infidelity
The early stages of discovery will likely be among the most painful times of your life. But no matter how impossible it seems, know that you can survive adultery with health and social care. Here are some ways you can take care of your mental health while coping with your spouse’s infidelity:
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Breathe.
Feeling intense emotions, such as panic, fear, and anger, can literally make it hard to breathe. This is your body’s way of preparing you for fight or flight. But this can make it difficult to think and leave you exhausted afterward.
Ground yourself by taking deep, slow breaths. While you’re in the grip of a life-altering experience, you may feel helpless and out of control. As a result, something as simple as managing your breathing can be empowering.
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Accept your emotions.
Shock, panic, confusion, anger, pain, and sadness are natural responses to infidelity. You will likely feel a mixture of these emotions for a while. Don’t hesitate to acknowledge them. Adultery broke the bedrock of your marriage, so it’s normal to mourn your relationship. Pushing away these feelings can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms and take a toll on your mental health.
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Don’t focus on who’s to blame.
Blaming your spouse, the third party, or yourself won’t change anything. Also, there’s seldom a simple answer to why married people cheat. It could be:
- Caused by other issues in your marriage
- Due to emotional or sexual dissatisfaction
- Related to something in your spouse’s past
- Utterly unrelated to you or your marriage
Regardless of the reason, what’s done is done. It would be best to focus more on surviving the aftermath of the adultery.
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Get emotional support.
Most people respond to adultery in one of two ways. They either want nothing to do with their unfaithful spouse or become determined to save their marriage. Whichever category you fall under, recovery will be a painful process.
Healing will be difficult. So it’s best to reach out to family or friends for emotional support. Not only can they help you survive what happened, but they can also make you feel less isolated. This reduces the risk of developing physical and mental health issues.
Take Care of Your Mental Health With Listening Support
Not comfortable with seeking support from your friends and family? That’s okay. This is normal, especially if you share not only your family but also your friend groups.
You can count on Talking for Therapy for round-the-clock listening support. Our advisors are trained to give people dealing with adultery in the UK a safe, non-judgmental talking space. We’re always ready to listen to anything you’d like to share. Schedule a call today, and let’s talk about YOU.
