Rachael Scharrer, divorce and relationships expert and coach, has found some common complaints and observations from men and women about their wandering spouses. This is a valuable compilation for those that may be wondering about the faithfulness of their spouse.
When you get the hunch that your partner may be cheating on you, it is a feeling that doesn’t go away until you have concrete evidence that it is either happening or is a figment of your imagination. For people who have been cheated on, they can all retrospectively see behaviours that were tell-tale signs during the relationship. As the saying goes, ‘love is blind’ and often we rationalise, make excuses and overlook odd and bad behaviour from our partner.
Quite often, there are changes that we notice in our partner which triggers the ‘hunch’ and either makes people convince themselves it isn’t happening or start a process of observation, diligence and enquiry…
If you think that your partner is cheating, here are some common signs to be conscious of:
CHANGES TO MOBILE PHONE/SOCIAL MEDIA BEHAVIOURS:
Extreme discretion with mobile phone
Not leaving the mobile out of site. Like it is glued to their hand/body
Leaving the phone on silent and sometimes with the vibration function off.
Doesn’t allow you to use their phone
Has an additional phone or phone with two SIM cards
Hiding their phone
Turning off notifications on the phone
Newly added apps
Increase in private Facebook messaging or What’s App messaging
Uses a new social media account
Has new Facebook friends that you don’t know
CHANGES TO FINANCIAL MATTERS:
Credit card transactions to unknown or random places
Sets up a personal/discretionary account for ‘personal things’
Note: Be mindful that work can split payments into different accounts
CHANGES TO WORK, SOCIAL LIFE AND LIFESTYLE:
changes to working hours – starting earlier or finishing later
Having more ‘networking’ or work meetings that partners aren’t invited to
Increased socialisation, especially without you
Started going to the gym more regularly
CHANGES TO ATTIRE, SELF AND PERSONAL HYGIENE:
Personal grooming
Dressing differently or better
Showering as soon as they come home
Purchased new clothes, underwear and jewellery
Has a different fragrance on the clothes (or make-up on the clothes)
Longer showers
Brushes teeth more often
Increased time in the bathroom, often with the phone
Comes home with a hickey
OTHER CHANGES:
Calling you the wrong name
Goes AWOL for periods without contact
Projecting and accusing you of cheating (when you aren’t)
Changes to mood, increased anxiety, increasingly lazy
Creates excuses/stories that don’t add up
Stopped wanting to be intimate with you
All too often, with retrospect and hindsight, it is likely that you will have noticed at least one of these changes. But these changes don’t guarantee that your spouse is cheating - they may even be trying to impress you or make more effort for you…. OR they may be cheating.
YOUR NEXT POSSIBLE ACTION STEPS COULD BE:
Google their name and see whether it comes up on any dating sites
If you think that your partner is cheating, don’t confront them when you are suspicious. Be alert and look for signs or proof before proceeding
Some people have utilised the services of a private investigator to follow their spouse for the concrete evidence
Create a fake Facebook profile to ‘bust’ your spouse (be warned, this could backfire on you)
In some situations, GASLIGHTING occurs. This is when one person manipulates the other into second-guessing or doubting themselves. Some people feel like they are losing their mind or sanity. My recommendation for combating gaslighting and ensuring that you start diarising and journaling the daily conversations/activities. This way, when something comes up, you can refer to your notes and know what your truth was at the time.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, follow your gut instinct and intuition. Often our head rationalises what our instincts are telling us and we ignore or overlook tell-tale signs. More often than not, your instincts and intuition are accurate.
