Regardless of where you personally draw the line, lots of people in relationships may have to deal with some level of romantic or sexual betrayal at some stage. Infidelity can cause erectile dysfunction (ED) for men who have cheated and for men who have been cheated on.
Guilt. If unable to please a partner, if prior issues of infidelity, or other relationship issues are on the mind, than it's common for it to inhibit erections. This can contribute to an ongoing cycle of ED, much like performance anxiety. Guilt can weigh heavy, so when it's causing ED people can fall into a hole.
Infidelity can have lasting impacts on partners and children the couple may have. Grief, brain changes, behaviors down the road, and mental health conditions such as anxiety, chronic stress, and depression can result. Some families have been able to move past infidelity with time and therapy.
Among men, 68% feel guilty after having an affair. Even if they haven't confessed the affair, most cheating husbands will feel guilty and express that guilt in their behavior. You may notice subtle changes in their behavior that make you wonder if your spouse is displaying cheating husband guilt.
Infidelity has even been associated with heart problems. A number of studies have found that men who cheat are more likely to have heart attacks, while 'broken heart syndrome' (stress-induced cardiomyopathy) is real - it typically affects older women who have experienced emotional trauma.
Students who cheat and at first get away with it may, in the long run, feel guilty and suffer from low self-esteem. This loss of self-respect can lead to a host of other problems, including difficulties with their careers, families, and other important aspects of life.
Cheating doesn't mean your partner doesn't love you or respect you anymore. In fact, it's quite the contrary. If your partner cheats on you, it's because they're doing everything they can to keep the relationship intact while still fulfilling their needs (because everyone has needs, both emotional and sexual).
Statistics show that only 31% of marriages last after the affair has been discovered or admitted to. People who are unfaithful to their partners regret causing their loved one so much pain and heartache. Even if the couple decides to stay together, it's very hard for them to have a trust-based, happy relationship.
Unlike conventional cheaters, narcissistic cheaters can feel greater self-entitlement, impulsivity, suffer from control issues, and experience a lack of empathy and remorse.
“Research tells us that on average, around 20% of men are unfaithful to their spouse, as compared to 13% of women,” says Leo.
The most important thing to remember is what cheating says about a person. They're insecure, impulsive, selfish, and immature. Sometimes, it's a chronic problem that likely won't ever be fixed, just be sure not to ignore the warning signs.
So, why is it that men find it difficult to forgive their partners if caught cheating? According to a British Psychotherapist, Philip Hodson, men often find it more difficult to forgive a cheating partner, because it affects their masculinity, and to them, it might signal the end of the relationship.
Your libido can take a dip
Medical professionals agree that stress, anxiety and exhaustion are all common causes of low libido. So, if you're dealing with the emotions of being cheated on, you can expect your sex drive to take a knock, and you're less likely to get hard as a result.
Physical issues like heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and smoking can all cause erectile dysfunction. On the other hand, depression, anxieties, stress, relationship problems, and other mental health concerns can also interfere with sexual feelings.
The first thing to keep in mind: “Erectile dysfunction is no one's fault,” says psychotherapist Brooke Bralove, LCSW-C, an AASECT certified sex therapist in Bethesda, Maryland. At the same time, it's not just a man's issue, as it can greatly impact both partners.
Shame and guilt.
You may not admit it, but if you cheat, you're going to be ashamed and feel guilty, especially if your partner finds out and tells other people. These toxic emotions will keep you from being emotionally free to be truly happy.
A study of 495 people revealed eight key reasons: anger, low self-esteem, lack of love, low commitment, need for variety, neglect, sexual desire, and circumstance. 1 It's important to understand that these reasons arise within the cheater and are not the responsibility of the betrayed partner.
Although many people believe in the adage, “Once a cheater, always a cheater,” it is not necessarily true. Not every person who cheats once will cheat again. However, serial cheaters are people who seek out sexual partners on a continual, chronic pattern of infidelity.
1. How are most affairs discovered? The phone! While there are text message codes that cheating spouses use to avoid getting caught, there is no denying that mobile phones are a danger zone for adulterers.
Unfortunately, there are several long-term effects of infidelity that can affect a person long after the cheating has stopped. These can be life-changing, and lead to the development of certain mental health conditions including chronic depression, anxiety, post-infidelity stress disorder, and betrayal trauma.
Simply put, cheating is being unfaithful to your partner.
There are different types of cheating in a relationship, and it doesn't only involve physical affairs. Instead, cheating seeks sexual intimacy, emotional attachment, or gratification from someone other than your partner.