EMOTIONAL WOUND THESAURUS

INFIDELITY



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HELPFUL TIP:

Emotional wounds will steer a character's behavior, corrupt his worldview, and cause negative traits to form. To understand exactly how this occurs, please read our tutorial for the Wound Thesaurus.

NOTE: We realize that sometimes a wound we profile may have personal meaning, stirring up the past for some of our readers. It is not our intent to create emotional turmoil. Please know that we research each wounding topic carefully to treat it with the utmost respect.
EXAMPLES:
A spouse engaging in a one-night stand or giving in to desire after drug or alcohol use
One's husband or wife having an affair with someone at work
Discovering one's spouse is cheating through online chat rooms or voyeur sites
A partner being caught with a prostitute
A partner who visits an ex and old feelings rekindle, leading to intimacy
Discovering that a spouse has multiple relationships or even a second family
One's spouse turning to a friend for companionship and advice
One's spouse struggling with sexual identity and choosing to explore it with others
A partner who accepts someone's sexual advances out of a strong need for approval
A partner who finds satisfaction elsewhere because of a lack of intimacy at home
A partner cheating emotionally (sharing intimate feelings with someone outside of the marriage), making one feel betrayed
An affair stemming from loneliness due to frequent and prolonged absences, such as military deployments or work-related travel
Discovering one's partner has cheated with a family member (a sibling, cousin, parent, etc.)
Trying to rebuild a marriage after infidelity only to learn that one's spouse is cheating again

WOUND CATEGORY:
Misplaced Trust and Betrayals, Traumatic Events, Abandonment

BASIC NEEDS OFTEN COMPROMISED BY THIS WOUND:
physiological needs, safety and security, love and belonging, esteem and recognition

LIES THAT MAY DEVELOP FOR CHARACTERS WITH THIS WOUND:
I am unworthy of love.
I am an unsatisfactory lover.
No one could ever be attracted to me.
This is my fault for not being good enough.
There is no such thing as a committed relationship.
All men (or women) cheat and I am better off alone.
If I let people in, they'll only hurt me.
If I want a relationship to last, I have to comply with my partner's whims.

THE CHARACTER MAY FEAR:
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POSSIBLE RESPONSES AND RESULTS:
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POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES THAT MAY RESULT:
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NEGATIVE TRAITS THAT MAY RESULT:
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TRIGGERS THAT MIGHT AGGRAVATE THIS WOUND:
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STEPS TOWARD HEALING:
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OPPORTUNITIES TO FACE OR OVERCOME THIS WOUND:
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