What is Emotional Infidelity?

Modern day stressful life has put a lot of pressure on our intimate relationships. Most people spend more time at the workplace these days and the open culture and freedom of interaction available makes emotional infidelity a very real possibility. Emotional infidelity or an emotional affair as it is otherwise known refers to a situation where there in no sexual intimacy between two people but rather a very real attraction that is never acted upon and a deep emotional intimacy. Since there are no clearly recognizable elements like that in a full blown affair (in the form of sexual intimacy) emotional infidelity has not been treated with as much seriousness till very recently. However the repercussions of emotional infidelity are just as painful and can cause tremendous problems between couples.

People obviously do not consciously go out looking for ways to emotionally cheat on their partners. The beginning of emotional infidelity is often quite casual and in the form of this wonderful working relationship that you may share with your co worker or a particularly good equation that your spouse may have with a girl from college days. In the office set up since people spend so much time together they grow used to each others’ presence and the two people concerned eventually become more than just friends. As they get used to each other, there is a greater effort to spend time with each other. If this friendship develops in an official setting then initially it revolves around business lunches and official trips and then eventually it may extend outside the office. People take efforts to meet each other often when they are attached to each other and while the sexual element is not acted upon, this creates problems in their relationship with their respective partners. In emotional cheating an individual thinks more and more about the "friend" and the emotional bond between the two seems stronger than that between the individual and his/her spouse.

The Internet has allowed people to keep in touch easily but this has also resulted in increase in cases of emotional infidelity. With the availability of forums and chat rooms people find it easier to open up with each other, particularly since the Internet guarantees a certain amount of anonymity. Since people are able to have private conversations without their identities being revealed, they are able to form close relationships and this can eventually lead to emotional infidelity. Anonymity allows people to share their darkest secrets without being judged.

There are some signs of emotional infidelity and these include:

• People who indulge in emotional infidelity often feel drawn towards one of their friends or colleagues with whom they share a wonderful and close bond.

• People involved in emotional infidelity often meet the co-worker or friend far too often and their spouses are not included in the plans.

• People involved in emotional cheating often discuss their partners, their children, fears, hopes and their problems with the "friend"  

• They are rather secretive towards the spouse about their equation with the "friend". They often make plans of meeting the "friend" and the spouse often has no idea of this.

• These individuals may keep their computer password protected. The spouse may often feel left out or even  feel that  his/her partner shares a much deeper bond with the "friend"

Emotional infidelity can happen to anyone and the best way to avoid such a situation is to continuously work on your relationship with your spouse or partner. Honesty will help you develop a strong relationship with your partner. Invest enough time and effort and discuss issues and problems immediately so that there is no resentment later on. Remember a relationship should make both people feel nurtured and happy and so keep communicating and working towards it.