Betrayal in Relationships

Betrayal in relationships can not only damage your relationship but will traumatize your partner especially if your relationship ended in a breakup.

Betrayal can take many forms beyond physical infidelity. I have described some of the more damaging aspects below.

Emotional infidelity or an “emotional affair” is one of the most damaging to relationships. Developing a deep emotional connection with someone outside the relationship can undermine the health of the relationship and certainly deteriorate trust.

Lying or lying by omission involves deceiving or hiding significant information from your partner.

Broken promises involve the failure to follow through on commitments or promises made to a partner.

Abandoning the relationship by physically or emotionally withdrawing from the relationship. Your presence both physically and emotionally is required for any relationship to be successful.

Failure to stand by a partner in times of need can create more than hurt feelings but also impacts the foundation of the relationship. The lack of support and consideration will impact the relationship negatively, especially if you are there for everyone else but your partner.

Sharing your personal and confidential information or secrets with others is a huge breach of trust. This information shared may be about the relationship, personal things about your partner including private information they have shared in confidence between you.

These forms of betrayal can deeply impact trust and intimacy in a relationship, often requiring significant effort to heal and rebuild. With effort, commitment and communication you can heal your relationship. You must however have two willing partners to do the work.

If you have been betrayed and your relationship ended or been on the receiving end of a breakup, you can heal. Seek the help of a qualified professional to help you work through the trauma and trust issues caused by the experience. Learn to trust others and yourself again. Keeping your heart open when everything tells you to close is courage personified.