Dealing with a cheating spouse is never easy, and it can be quite messy. If you are looking for signs or hints that your partner is unfaithful, we have a list that might help you along the way.
We should mention that none of these things is a smoking gun, and you might want to consider other options before you accuse your partner. You might want to look up some marriage tips and ways to improve the situation before you are certain that the worst-case scenario has happened.
Improved Appearance
One of the clear signs that something has changed is if your partner suddenly focuses on their appearance. They might have started to work out, eat healthier, and pay attention to their looks. Of course, this only applies in cases where none of these things were important to them before, and there is a clear shift in their focus and priorities.
It might be a sign that they are trying to appear more attractive and confident so as to impress someone other than you. Needless to say, there is no reason to overreact, and there is still a chance that your partner has decided to change parts of their life they are not satisfied with. The person they are trying to impress might be you.
Secretive Phone or Computer Use
Having another phone is always a bad sign. But even if they didn’t get a new secret phone, ask yourself whether they are secretive whenever they use a computer or phone. Whenever a person tries to hide their chats or messages, it might be a sign of infidelity.
This is especially important if they didn’t use to be so secretive. Needless to say, sharing passwords and openly talking about messages and people they’re chatting with isn’t the norm for every relationship. There are many perfectly healthy relationships that still keep private stuff private.
The only worrying sign is if this type of behavior starts out of nowhere.
Periods When Your Significant Other Is Unreachable
If your partner is not answering their phone, it is not the end of the world. The battery might be empty, or they might be stuck at work. Once again, the problem occurs if this is something that starts happening out of the blue.
If your partner is cheating on you, there is a high chance they will be unavailable or unreachable during their adventure. Ask yourself if delayed answers to your texts are something new or they are just the kind of person that forgets to check their phone regularly.
Significantly Less, or More, or Different Sex in Your Relationship
Changes in your everyday routine can be a clear red flag. So any type of deviation can be a sign of your significant other cheating on you.
If you are having significantly less sex, it might be a sign that their focus is on someone else instead of you. Not everyone is able to live a double life like a pro, and it will reflect on their everyday activities, one of them being sex.
Changing their focus can impact the regularity of sex, and if they are having sex with someone else, it could explain why they don’t want to have it with you. At the same time, there are people who are well aware of this change. They will try to compensate and cover their tracks.
This means that having sex more often can also be a sign of adultery. They might be having sex with someone else, and they are trying desperately to keep it a secret.
Finally, a change in your sex life is not always a good thing. Have you noticed new moves from your partner? Is anything different? Do they react in an unusual way to things that have always been normal? All of this might be a sign that they’ve been doing it with something else lately.
Your Partner Is Hostile Toward You and Your Relationship
Cheaters tend to rationalize their behavior. They will come to the conclusion that they had no choice and maybe even start feeling like a victim. Sudden hostility toward you and your relationship is something to keep an eye on.
Their outbursts of anger might be a sign of them feeling guilty for something they did. Naturally, something like this can happen for a variety of reasons. They might be having a bad week, a boss who acts like a jerk, or anything else that might make them feel angry.
If talking to them doesn’t help, and they just keep getting more defensive, it might be another sign that something is not right.
An Altered Schedule
A change in their schedule can always point out the elephant in the room. If your significant other never stayed late at work, but suddenly, they have to stay longer every other day, they might be using their work as a cover for what they are actually doing.
This is a problem if it starts happening more and more frequently. Once again, you don’t want to overreact and assume the worst. There is a chance that it’s really about their work and that they need to work extra hard on a new project or similar.
The one thing you need to ask yourself is if something like this is possible. It is important to know how long they have been working there. The longer they have been at the same job, the lower the chances of sudden schedule changes.
Friends Seem Uncomfortable Around You
One of the worst things about being cheated on is that you will be the last person to find out. Their friends are likely to have known everything from the start, and your partner might have said something to them.
If their friends start acting uncomfortable, it might be a sign that your partner is lying. If you suddenly start feeling like Mr. Jones, you might want to ask a couple of questions to clear up the situation.
Furthermore, your friends might find out the truth before you, so pay attention to their behavior as well. Of course, if they are your friends, there is a high chance that they would let you know.
Emotional Intimacy Has Faded
Emotional intimacy is one of the first things to suffer when someone starts cheating. Just remember that dedicating your love and affection to someone is not an easy task, and most people can’t juggle between two partners.
If your partner seems less emotionally invested or less vulnerable and open, it might be a strong indication that things have gone south. Their refusal to be intimate and emotional can be interpreted as a sign of adultery.
It is essential to understand that none of these things on the list is a 100% guarantee that your partner is having an affair. But they can all contribute to the bigger picture and give you a better understanding of the situation.
When You Ask About Cheating, Your Partner Deflects and Avoids
If your partner is cheating on you, the last thing they want to do is talk to you about it. Let’s be honest about it. If someone is capable of cheating, it is a clear sign that they have problems.
Of course, your relationship might have issues, and they might think you’re the reason they’re doing it. But it is never an excuse. If they aren’t satisfied with the relationship, they should talk to you and end things. It is a fair thing to do. Yes, it will feel bad, but at least you won’t feel like an idiot.
So if you ask them about cheating, it’s likely that they will try to change the subject. They obviously don’t want to talk about relationship issues, and avoiding the answer is one of the biggest signs of cheating.