Moving On After Long-Term Affairs When Both Parties Are Married
Long-term affairs when both parties are married can be challenging and stressful, especially when both are married. This article details what happens when married people have long-term affairs with each other and advises how to move on after such a situation.
When two married people have an affair that lasts for a long time, it can lead to many different feelings and complicated relationships. The affair may have started innocently or by accident, but as time passed, it became a deeper connection that was hard to overlook.
I. LONG-TERM AFFAIRS WHEN BOTH PARTIES ARE MARRIED
People have long-term relationships for many reasons, but some of the most popular ones are:
- Unhappiness with their marriages
- Lack of intimacy or communication with their partner
- feeling ignored or unappreciated
- Falling in love with someone else
No matter what the reason, it can be hard to end a long-term relationship. There is often a lot of emotional connection between the two people, and they may not want to end the relationship.
When both people are married, dealing with the mental complexities of a long-term affair can be tricky. Both the people having an affair and their partners often feel guilt, shame, and anger about it.
Also, there is often a feeling of loss because the people having an affair may have to end the relationship they have made. It can be arduous, and you should give yourself time to feel sad about the loss.
If you are having trouble getting over a long-term relationship, you should get help. A therapist can help you figure out how to deal with your feelings and move on.
II. UNDERSTANDING LONG-TERM AFFAIRS
A. Definition and Characteristics
1. Defining Long-Term Affairs
A long-term affair is a relationship outside of marriage that lasts for a long time. There is no one clear description of what a “long-term affair” is, but most people think of it as a relationship that lasts at least a few months or even years.
Long-term relationships can be defined by several things, such as:
Emotional intimacy: When two people have had an affair for a long time, they often feel emotionally close to each other. They may talk about their deepest thoughts and feelings and feel a sense of belonging and support they don’t get in their primary relationships.
Physical intimacy: Long-term relationships often include both emotional and physical intimacy. People in the situation may have sex with each other often and feel very attracted to each other.
Secrecy: Most of the time, the partners of the people having long-term affairs don’t know about them. It can make the affair more exciting and complex for the people involved to be honest with themselves and each other.
2. Factors Contributing to the Duration of the Affair
Several things make it possible for long-term affairs when both parties are married to last:
Emotional Connection: If the people having an affair feel very close to each other emotionally, this can be a strong reason for the affair to last. This emotional closeness fills needs and wants that their marriages may not meet, making it hard to break ties.
Shared History and Memories: Long-term relationships create a shared history and memories that unite people. The shared events strengthen These emotional connections, making it harder for them to let go.
Fear of Consequences: Fear of what might happen if the affair ends can also make it last longer. If their secret relationship is found, both people may worry about how it will affect their families, social standing, or finances.
Unresolved Problems in Marriages: There can also be unresolved issues or dissatisfaction. Suppose people feel unfulfilled or neglected in their primary relationships. In that case, they may keep having an affair to get emotional or physical satisfaction from someone else.
Lack of Alternatives: Sometimes, the people involved may be unable to think of any good ways out of the situation. Fear of being alone or finding it hard to end a long-term affair can make it hard for them to move on.
Understanding these things can help people involved in or affected by long-term affairs when both parties are married figure out how to deal with the problems that come from them.
Keep Reading: Long-Term Affairs When Both Parties Are Married