Few things in life hurt as much as a betrayal. When we place our trust in someone who does not keep their word, disappointment sinks into the depths of our being. In this way, all the illusions and dreams that we had at some point disappear completely. This event can occur in various areas, such as at work, family ties or in relationships, among others.
Likewise, betrayal and infidelities are so common in our society that we can even find them in a large number of series and film productions. However, it is important to know the effects of love betrayals on mental health. In this Psychology-Online article, we will provide you with information about the consequences of psychological damage due to infidelity.
Distrust of other people
When a loved one has committed infidelity, our trust in other people usually decreases as well. This distrust is a consequence of the breaking of the agreement based on establishing a monogamous bond. In other words, in most cases infidelity is directly linked to having an emotional and sexual relationship with a single person. Therefore, if one of the members of the couple commits infidelity, there is a good chance that the other person will tend to distrust other social ties that are presented to him.
Guilty feeling
Another manifestation that can appear after discovering infidelity is the feeling of guilt. In this case, the person who was deceived believes she is responsible for what happened for not having carried out certain actions or changing aspects of yourself during the relationship.
This translates into a deep feeling of guilt that invades life and affects everyday relationships. For example, a person may think that she suffered infidelity because she was not attentive enough during the relationship. Likewise, on many occasions, the feeling of guilt can be a way to avoid holding the other person responsible for the act they committed.
Distress
The feeling of emptiness is usually one of the most common reactions after infidelity. This corresponds to the fact that we think that there is no possibility of establishing a future relationship without infidelity. Likewise, anguish can be accompanied by the belief that infidelities occur in almost all romantic relationships.
Social isolation
If the love relationship had a very high intensity and infidelity occurs, one of the ways to react to the psychological damage caused is to socially isolate oneself from the person’s environment unfaithful. While it is true that distrust is usually directed at the person who committed the infidelity, in many cases it is also likely that these feelings expand towards the environment of which the unfaithful person is a part, such as their friends or family.
Insomnia
Another of the consequences of psychological damage due to infidelity is presence of sleep disturbances. In general terms, the obstacles that prevent adequate rest intensify and become more visible after the heartbreak has occurred, since recurring thoughts about it intensify at bedtime.
Fluctuating mood
Even though the variation in mood It is a common phenomenon in many people, these changes usually increase in cases of infidelity, since they can seriously affect their feelings. One of the most common reactions consists of the fluctuation between moments of states of fury towards others of .
Low self-esteem
The fact that a person is deceived by another usually produces a low self-esteem. In other words, in cases of infidelity the victim may feel that his or her qualities are of little value versus those of other people. Therefore, feelings of inferiority may arise or increase after going through this situation.
Eating disorders
There is a strong relationship between what we eat and our personality. On some occasions, the difficulty in processing certain feelings can be reflected through difficulties in eating food. For this reason, eating disorders are another of the consequences that infidelity can cause, and which can be characterized by excess eating, lack of appetite, among others.
It should be noted that the presence of any warning signs that may suggest an eating disorder should always be evaluated by a mental health professional.
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Jealousy
The appearance of jealousy is another of the manifestations that are generated in these situations and denote lack of security. In this way, people who have been through infidelity may feel a great deal of insecurity after discovering the deception.
Lack of sexual pleasure
The sexual factor usually directly influences most relationships. For this reason, when someone is suffering from infidelity, their sexual desire can significantly decrease. Likewise, the decrease in sexual desire can translate into a poor sexual performance or difficulties in achieving focused concentration on the act, among others.
If you are debating whether or not to forgive infidelity, you can read.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Bibliography
- Saldarriaga Guisao, L.M. (2015). Infidelity: A psychic description from a psychoanalytic approach. A case study. Lasallian University Corporation. Faculty of Social Sciences and Education.
- Varela Macedo, M. (2014). Study on infidelity in a couple: Analysis of the content of the literature. Magazine Alternatives in psychology, 3 (30), 36-49.