If you asked ten different men and women to define the word “cheating,” you’d probably get ten different answers. Some people feel that only sexual contact counts as cheating, while others find emotional affairs just as disturbing.
Because so many definitions exist, it’s imperative that you and your spouse agree on the same one – but what if you never did? Worse, what if your spouse crossed the line into what you feel is the realm of cheating, but he or she feels differently?
Emotional Cheating: Drawing the Line
When your spouse becomes emotionally involved with someone else, you might consider that a “deal-breaker.” Emotionally involved can mean several different things; what’s important is where you draw the line. Once you discover emotional infidelity, it’s up to you whether you end up talking to a Durham divorce lawyer or seeking counseling to see if you can work through the infidelity.
How Do Emotional Affairs Start?
Emotional affairs often start out as friendships. They can even start in online forums, on social media or on websites designed to encourage affairs. This doesn’t mean you should be suspicious of your spouse’s friendships – it just means that friendships have the potential to turn into more, particularly when one spouse feels that his or her emotional needs aren’t being met at home.
Can You Rebound from a Breach of Trust?
Talking to a lawyer can help you make the right decision, because he or she will explain how child custody, alimony and other factors will play a role in your life if you choose to divorce your spouse.
While you can get a divorce from bed and board based on infidelity, you’ll have to discuss the specifics of your case with your attorney. North Carolina permits divorce without having to prove fault, so you can leave your spouse over emotional cheating. The question isn’t whether you can get a divorce; the question is whether you can rebound from your spouse’s emotional affair.
