Sexual trust is an important component of any romantic relationship. It refers to the belief that one's partner will act responsibly and honestly regarding their sexual behavior and desires. Breaching this trust can have significant negative impacts on mental health. In particular, it can lead to feelings of betrayal, mistrust, anger, and anxiety. These emotions can be exacerbated if the person who has been cheated on feels that they are less attractive or desirable than their partner's new lover.
Repeated breaches of sexual trust may cause individuals to question their own judgment and ability to choose appropriate partners, leading to increased self-doubt and low self-esteem. The psychological consequences of these types of breaches can be long-lasting and difficult to overcome.
There are ways to repair the damage caused by broken trust through communication, forgiveness, and rebuilding trust.
Some people might think that infidelity is normal, but research shows otherwise. When someone breaks your trust in a sexual way, you need time to process what happened. This can take days, weeks, months, or even years. During this time, you may experience a range of negative emotions such as anger, sadness, guilt, shame, embarrassment, and depression. You might blame yourself for not being enough or making mistakes that contributed to the situation. You might also feel isolated from friends and family because they don't understand why you are having trouble getting over the hurt.
The person who broke your trust may try to explain themselves or rationalize their actions. They might say that they were drunk, that it meant nothing, or that you pushed them away. But these excuses do not change the fact that they hurt you deeply. It's important to acknowledge that they made a mistake and to give them space to apologize without putting them down or attacking them personally.
If they show remorse and commit to changing their behavior, you can begin to rebuild trust again.
It takes effort on both sides to move past this painful experience.
What are the psychological consequences of repeated breaches of sexual trust?
The violation of trust is often seen as one of the most significant factors that can negatively impact relationships. It may cause a range of negative feelings such as betrayal, anger, sadness, jealousy, fear, confusion, and low self-esteem. Research shows that individuals who have experienced repeated instances of betrayal tend to experience higher levels of anxiety and depression than those who have not (Birnbaum et al. , 2014).