Emotional cheating slammed into me last October, in this tiny Brooklyn spot where the radiator hisses non-stop and the neighbor’s dog barks at nothing. I’m still reeling from the emotional affair my ex pulled, those hidden chats and laughs that weren’t for me. Thought we had it good, then wham—heart elsewhere, and damn, it stung worse than any hookup would’ve. Seriously, I’d take the physical over this soul rip any day.
Kinda What Emotional Cheating Looked Like for Us
It’s not big explosions, nah. Emotional cheating creeps in with little stuff. Jake (yeah, him) always on his phone with “work buddy,” sharing memes while I’m right there with my noodles going cold. Missed the signs big time:
- Phone flips when I get close.
- “She just gets my stress” every other sentence.
- Bed went dead, but he was “exhausted” from overtime.
I brushed it off, cuz who wants to admit? Then boom, saw the texts—deep talks, emojis, no touching but felt like everything. Gut hit the floor, worse than spilling my latte on the subway steps yesterday.
Why This Emotional Cheating Hurt Way More (My Take Anyway)
Physical? Gross, but fixable maybe. Emotional infidelity? It yanks the rug, steals the inside jokes, the 3am confessions we built. Jake handed our closeness to her, left me wondering if my banana bread sucked or what. Cried in the shower till prune fingers, snot everywhere, thinking how do you fight a ghost in his brain?
BlamED myself hard. Not witty enough? Deep enough? Makes you doubt your whole self.
My Epic Fails Handling the Emotional Cheating Mess
Handled it like trash, tbh. Insta stalked her till eyes burned. Sent Jake this novel text starting calm, ending with caps about DOES MY COOKING EVEN MATTER??? Wish that was fake.
Learned eventually:
- Stop sleuthing, it’ll eat your brain (and mascara).
- Talk straight—”this emotional affair is breaking us”—he squirmed, good.
- Got a therapist in the Slope, she said “emotional outsourcing.” Huh, eye-opener.
This Psychology Today piece on emotional affair recovery? Clutch, read it.
Wait, I’ve Done the Emotional Cheating Too (Oops)
Honest? College me vented to a “friend” about my bf, lit up at his pings, hid stuff. Wasn’t planning it, but emotional cheating snowballed from “innocent” shares.
Check yo self:
- Deleting before they see?
- Spilling secrets not to your partner?
- Heart flip at notifications?
Yeah, hit brakes. Lost a solid dude cuz I blurred lines bad.
Piecing Myself After Emotional Cheating (Still Chaos)
Half year on, apartment’s a self-care graveyard—candles half gone, yoga mat as decor, journal with “love sucks” in sparkly ink. But progress:
- Cut ex off everywhere, even that dumb app.
- Pottery class, made a wonky mug: “TRUST COSTS EXTRA.”
- Solo dates, midnight diner pancakes alone. Chef’s kiss.
TED on trust rebuild after betrayal—grab kleenex.
Wrapping My Emotional Cheating Rant
Emotional cheating ain’t lesser evil, it’s stealth mode destruction. Slow poison. Still cry at movies, glare at happy subway pairs, but knowing my value ain’t his to give away. Figuring it.
Hit me up if you’re in it, or nah. Eat the pizza, feel the feels.
Call your person, ask the hard stuff. Or binge Netflix. Your call, not judging.
