How to Save a Marriage After an Affair: Most couples will voice their distaste for infidelity, but the statistics show that around 25% of men and 15% of women have played the field outside of their marriage. The numbers are even higher for non-physical affairs that are purely emotional.
In most cases, an extramarital affair destroys a marriage, but that does not mean there is no hope for reconciliation. Here’s how to save your marriage after an affair.
1. Get Professional Help
2. Make Amends
3. Get the Affair out in the Open
You will hear well-meaning but poor advice that an affair should not be discussed – it happened, it’s in the past, move on. This advice is not conducive to repairing the marriage. It might be painful, but talking about the affair and getting everything out in the open is the best way to get past the pain and feelings of betrayal.
Allow the betrayed partner some time to ask questions and get some understanding of why the affair happened. The only questions off-limits are ones related to specific sexual acts. Victims of an affair often experience mental health challenges like PTSD, mood swings, and anxiety. Hearing about specific sexual acts can make these symptoms much worse.
4. Be Open and Transparent
The perpetrator of the affair must be prepared to be completely open and honest. This means that the partner who had an affair must be willing to answer questions about their whereabouts and if there is to be any unavoidable contact with the affair partner – if they are a work colleague, for example.
If you are the betraying partner you should be willing to have your phone, email accounts, and GPS routes examined. The betrayed partner will be on the lookout for further signs of betrayal, and open and honest communication is the best way to restore their trust, but it will take time.
5. Find out What Went Wrong
6. Make the Consequences of a Repeat Offence Clear
7. Learn to Forgive and Start Rebuilding
Better Marriage is the best place to learn everything you need to know about saving your marriage. We will tell you how to keep your marriage alive and well. Read More about Save My Marriage At Better Marriage
