The pandemic has affected marriages across the world. More couples are staying together, and this is not always a good thing. Combine it with increased stresses and financial woes, couples are facing issues.
Surprisingly, one problem that has been increased because of the pandemic is infidelity. At first, you may find that this seems unlikely since more people are together under one home. You may also think it’s not the case because fewer people are willing to risk a hookup in a pandemic. But this is not the case.
Infidelity can ruin a marriage, and surviving it is hard. It’s important to look for the reasons why infidelity is happening during these times and find something to do about it.
The Pandemic Has Made Marriages Worse
Infidelity tends to happen because of marriage woes. One may start to cheat on their spouse because they feel like they are on their way out already. Many people do not know how to manage conflict under a lockdown and combined with the other stresses, it can lead to those trying to seek refuge from someone else.
Less Sex
Infidelity can be due to a lack of or a poor sex life. One would think that being together more often would lead to more sex, but this is not the case. Some people are too afraid to do it, especially if one has to leave the house. Others may feel too stressed to have sex. Because of marital issues due to arguing, this can lead to less sex as well.
Virtual Cheating is Still Cheating
One thing you have to remember is that infidelity doesn’t mean meeting someone in-person and having sex with them. You can cheat on someone without even leaving your home. Dating apps make it easy to cheat, and it’s quite easy for someone to hide it when one could cheat while on the toilet.
If someone still has a job or can leave the house, they can also go on dates with the person they are cheating with. Socially distant dates are still possible. Plenty of cheaters are sneaky about it, even in a time where you wouldn’t believe that it’s possible.
Many People Are Not Seeking Help
Many of the issues that lead to infidelity can be stopped through marriage counseling. However, because of the pandemic, many do not want to seek help from a therapist in-person. They may also be unfamiliar with online therapy or believe it is not effective.
Not to mention, even without a pandemic, there are many couples who believe that seeking help is a sign of weakness. These people may avoid speaking to a therapist or a counselor because they feel that means that their relationship is beyond repair. This shouldn’t be the case; many healthy couples seek counseling in order to keep their marriage going.
A Spouse Can’t Fulfill All Needs
A spouse can indeed fulfill many needs, but not everything. When married, some people may still need to hang out with friends or talk to others. During a lockdown, people start to realize that no, a spouse cannot fulfill all needs. This can lead to the cheater looking for friends, and eventually for lovers.
It’s important that one maintains contact with friends and other people, even if they have to do it virtually. Doing this can allow you to reduce the chances of having needs that your spouse cannot fulfill.
Recovering Can Be Difficult
If you catch your partner having an affair, it can spell the end of a marriage in many cases. For those marriages that don’t end, it can be difficult for you to rebuild your trust. After all, it takes years to build up trust and one betrayal to destroy it. Because of this, you may wonder how you can recover after a betrayal. Some people may not recover all the way, and still have the old wounds years from now. Scars may heal, but they still show on your body.
Seek Help
If you are thinking of having an affair, suspect your partner of having one, or you’re having marriage problems, seeking help from a marriage counselor is what you should do. In the lockdown, there are online therapy resources available. Speaking to a therapist remotely can benefit you just as well.
Websites such as ReGain are ideal for couples who are having issues.
We hope that your marriage is free from trouble and infidelity. With that said, no one is perfect, especially in times of a pandemic. You may still end up having problems in your marriage, and that’s okay. As long as you work to solve those issues in a way that is productive, you can get out of this lockdown with a marriage that is stronger than ever.
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