Cheating Spouses: Should You Stay With Them?

It's not easy when you find out your spouse isother, they may decide to fulfill these needs
having an affair. Maybe you haven't quite foundelsewhere. This is a driving factor for why affairs
out yet, but your gut is telling you they are.begin.
Trust your gut. Statistics show that 80% ofIf you are feeling like your spouse is having or
women and 50% of men who think their spouseyou know they have had an affair, you need to
is cheating are correct.evaluate what their needs are and see if you
When you first find out or feel as though yourhave met them.
partner is having an affair, it's natural to think thatAn affair is not the end of a marriage. You have
you did something wrong. The first thing I wantdeveloped so much together, it is hard to walk
to share with you is that this is NOT your fault.away and divorce, despite the social and family
You didn't do this to you or your spouse. Theypressures you may be feeling. Again, this is where
are the one's who did this.an on-line support community can be beneficial.
Affairs happen for many reasons, and theyMy advice is to not give up. If you have
happen to many people. The second thing I wantsomething worth saving, then save it. Don't throw
to share with you is that you are NOT alone.everything away. If you realize that you and your
Don't feel like you can't share this with others.partner are not meeting each other's needs, than
There are communities out on the internet thatwork a plan to start communicating.
are great support groups because they are full ofBegin to ask each other things that you can do,
people going through exactly what you are goingor what they expect. You need to satisfy each
through.other, the way you did when you were dating.
I think the best part about these communities isAs you begin to understand the expectations you
that the people you are leaning on are completelyhave for one another, you will notice that your
nutrual. They don't know you, or your spouse, socommunication increases, and it will be easier to
the opinions they share are from the heart,talk to your spouse, and you will have less fights.
without any bias.You will find new activities to share in together,
What they offer you that many others can't isand you will make sacrafices for one another. You
that they have been through exactly what youwill begin to love the marriage that you have.
are going through. They understand everythingWhat you will notice most is that you will be more
you are feeling and can tell you what else toresponsive to your spouse's needs, and you will
expect.find yourself to be a more trusting spouse.
People cheat for many different reasons, andI know you may think it impossible to trust
those reasons typically differ for men andanyone ever again, but when you create a
women. The bottom line is that people cheattransparency through communication, you will
when their basic needs aren't being met.trust your spouse because you are open with
I think every couple should write down their topeach other, and you know what they are
five needs in their relationship, and share themwanting, needing and expecting.
with their partner. You will see that the lists areDon't give up. No one who has ever given up has
completely different from one another.ever won anything. Stay with your marriage, your
You can't get mad at your spouse for what theyspouse. It will take work, and you will need
say their needs are. These are their needs, notsupport. But don't give up.
yours. They are supposed to be different. WhatIn many instances, couples have gone on to live
you need to do is understand those needs, andhappier marriages after an affair. You are thinking
work to try and meet and even exceed thosethat it's impossible, aren't you? But when you
needs.open up communication, and learn new things and
This is how successful relationships are built. I amconstantly set out to please one another, you will
sure most couples don't know what their spouse'sfind a joy and euphoria that you haven't
needs are, and the reason they don't know, isexperienced in years, if ever.
they never ask.Imagine what you would lose if you just left your
This is called communication, and it opens thespouse because your family and friends are telling
door to a healthy marriage. When you are honestyou it's not worth saving. What do they know?
and open with one another, you create aIt's your life, your spouse, and your marriage. You
transparency, where you really know yourknow it's worth saving.
spouse, what they want, what they need andThe affair is an eye-opener, yes, but it is also a
how to meet those needs.cry for help. Get the help you need, and live the
When one spouse feels their needs aren't beingmarriage you always dreamed of.
met, and they can't communicate it with the