Rebuilding Trust In Your Marriage After An Affair

All married couples go through rocky times in their relationship at one point or another. However, when your spouse has an affair, it takes marital problems to a whole other level. Adultery is one of the leading causes of divorce. If you opt to remain in the relationship, rebuilding trust is likely to be one of your biggest challenges. Our Tampa family lawyer offers some tips for dealing with this difficult situation.

Is Divorce Inevitable Once A Spouse Cheats?

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), adultery is one of the commonly cited factors for the breakup of a marriage. If your spouse cheats, a divorce is not inevitable but it will likely take time to repair the damage.

Being lied to while your spouse engaged in affairs makes it hard to count on them moving forward or believe anything they say. To rebuild trust, Marriage.com recommends these tips:

• Communicate with each other about why it happened: An affair cannot be ignored or swept under the rug. You and your spouse need to discuss why it happened.
• Be accountable for your part: You are not to blame for your spouse’s cheating. However, it is important to acknowledge your part in creating any distance in the relationship.
• Cut all ties to the person they cheated with: Your spouse needs to stop the affair immediately and avoid future contact with the person. For your part, avoid efforts at communication or looking up their profile on social media.
• Start with a clean slate: It takes time to forgive a spouse for cheating. However, do your best to not bring up the situation at inappropriate times.

Protecting Yourself In The Aftermath Of A Spouse’s Affair

Being cheated on is a terrible feeling. Accept that it will take time to rebuild trust and get over what happened. The following tips can help in healing hurt feelings and rebuilding self-esteem:

• Avoid obsessing over what happened or comparing yourself to the person they cheated with;
• Find friends or family to confide in who will be supportive of what you are going through;
• Make time for your own hobbies and interests, which you may have abandoned over the course of your marriage;
• Considering attending joint and individual counseling.

Despite your efforts, it may be impossible to rebuild trust or your spouse may cheat again. To protect your rights, consider a postnuptial agreement. Under the Florida Statutes, this can help protect your interests in marital property and assets, providing future financial security if a divorce becomes inevitable.

Discuss Your Options With Our Tampa Child Custody Attorneys

Adultery is a serious issue in marriage and a leading cause of divorce. If your spouse cheated, it can take time to rebuild trust. While you work on your relationship, take the steps needed to protect yourself. At Bubley & Bubley, P.A., we are here to help. To discuss your options with our Tampa family lawyer, call or contact our office online and request a confidential consultation.

Sources:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4012696/

marriage.com/advice/save-your-marriage/rebuilding-trust-after-cheating/

flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2011/61.079