On The Road To Having An Affair & Don’t Even Know It?

Often well-meaning, men and women of faith and good character can end up in a place they never thought possible. An innocent slight glance, warm smile, or humorous exchange may be just that. However, if one is not careful, warning signs may be missed along the way creating an “accidental” affair never intended.

 Relationship Help With An Infidelity

“Definitely I would never end up in affair!” you may be thinking to yourself. Yet, it happens at an extraordinary high rate. “While percentages of extramarital sex (EMS) vary from study to study, it can be estimated that 50-60% of married men and 45-55% of married women engage in extramarital sex at some time or another during their marriage.*”

There are some common reasons both men and women end up having an affair.

1. Unresolved discord in their marriage
2. Ineffective communication skills
3. An unsatisfactory marital sex life
4. Financial pressures or distress
5. Feeling unloved or taken for granted in the marriage
6. Lack of physical affection
7. Lost emotional connection
8. Stressors of having and raising children
9. Alcohol, substance, or drug use/abuse
10. Unhealed childhood issues

Fortunately, if these elements are present in a marriage, this does not mean there will be an infidelity. It simply means that each partner should be careful to ensure they are addressing and healing what is wrong in their marriage.

Relationship Help With An Infidelity

Before an affair actually occurs, there are many steps or “warning signs” along the way.  When these are heeded, an affair can definitely be stopped before it starts. Yet, when they are not… look out!!

Here are some common signs to be aware of…

1. Feeling excited or “alive” when seeing the other person
2. Thinking about the other person more than occasionally
3. Finding excuses to have contact via text, email, phone, or in person with the other person
4. Fantasying about the other person
5. Comparing your spouse to the other person
6. Finding more faults with your spouse
7. Becoming more impatient or irritated with your spouse
8. Rationalizing your thoughts and behaviors about the other person

Fundamentally people in our modernized society get married because they are in love and believe their marriage is going to work. They sign up for a lifetime of happy wedded bliss. However, when that is not the reality, having an affair is not the answer! If you feel you may be on the road of having an affair- simply stop, turn around, and reach out for help.