Can You Use the Terms Infidelity and Emotional Affair Interchangeably?
What Is the Difference Between an Emotional Affair and Infidelity?
While there is a difference between an emotional and physical affair, both fit into the category of infidelity.
Infidelity is being unfaithful to your partner, with whom you have a commitment. Stepping out, whether emotionally or physically, can damage your relationship. Likewise, both are considered to be affairs (psychologytoday.com)
Emotional affairs can be more intense than physical affairs because of the time investment it takes to create an emotional bond. As a result, a person who discovers an emotional affair can experience feelings like one who discovers a sexual affair (verywellmind.com).
Emotional affairs often begin with an innocent friendship. Lengthy interactions together can cause feelings to develop. The same is true for text conversations. If you feel drawn to someone outside of your relationship, you may want to re-evaluate the situation. Likewise, you can do things to avoid time with just the two of you. For example, you can invite a co-worker to long meetings or avoid taking lunch breaks together.
How Can You Save Your Marriage After Infidelity?
Often, the decision to remain together after infidelity is a difficult choice to make. The decision can be more difficult if you have children together. As a result, you may be wondering what you should do next.
At Eagle's Wing Counseling Center, we can help you through this difficult time. While infidelity is a difficult issue to overcome, many couples heal and remain together. Likewise, these couples often move forward with a new level of commitment to each other. On the contrary, some couples decide they want to go separate ways. We can help you through the process you feel is best for your situation.
