There is such a thing as emotional infidelity. Emotional infidelity often happens with little awareness that it is about to happen or that it is even occurring. For most people emotional infidelity often creeps up on them. My professional belief is that emotional infidelity occurs when we are not aware of the emotional, mental, spiritual, or physical difficulties we may be experiencing both in our personal and romantic relational lives.
What’s the cause
Usually, there is either a need we are longing for in our lives or relationships or/and we may be avoiding a need in our lives or relationships. The bottom-line is emotional infidelity occurs because we are fearful of being vulnerable with ourselves and partners about our longing for this need. This need can be emotional, relational, sexual, professional, spiritual, physical, etc. But because we are fearful of being vulnerable about this need and facing it, we turn away from ourselves and partner and turn to someone else to rescue us from that fear emotionally. So, instead of being vulnerable with yourself and your partner about him or her being more supportive of you emotionally or professionally, your fear of being vulnerable or rejected, pushes you to seek out this support from someone else.
Can we protect?
The question then is, can we really protect our relationships from emotional infidelity? I don’t think we can completely do so. Our tendency as human beings is often to run away from what we fear and to seek refuge and relief from other people, places or things. However, we can safeguard our relationship from emotional infidelity if we are honest with ourselves and partners about our needs and not allow fear to stop us from expressing these to our partner. This then requires you to explore what your fear is connected to. Is your fear about/connected to you, your partner and/or your relationship? Is your fear that you are not good enough to have your needs met? Is it that your partner does not take your needs seriously? Perhaps there needs to be a change in your relationship?
Whatever your fear is about, protecting your relationship from emotional infidelity calls for you to face this fear and allow the truth to surface in order to prevent emotional injuries and possible death of your relationship. Take courage, face your fear! (Learn how to take bold risks)