Knowing how to end an affair just isn’t easy.
You may feel guilty about it, but like an addiction that’s hard to resist, an affair can control your life and eventually dominate it and tear it apart.
Wanting to end an affair is the first step, and it is the right one.
If you’re determined to end an affair, we’ll tell you how to go about it the right way.
But you have to remember this, no pointers or hand holding can help you out of an affair unless you make up your mind to end it in the first place.
You may have started an affair by a twist of chance and fate, but only determination and strength can get you out of the irresistible affair.
How to end an affair
Ending an affair takes time, and one of the prominent difficulties of getting out of an affair is the temptation of wanting to get back into it at the very first opportunity.
It is an easy way out, after all.
Every time you have an argument with your spouse, it’s easier to walk into someone else’s loving arms than to work on improving a difficult relationship.
But an affair is never the answer to a failing relationship. Work on your own relationship, and if you see no hope for it, end the relationship instead of getting into an affair and confusing your already confused love life.
If you do want to know how to end an affair and have a happy life with your own partner, here’s what you need to understand.
Do you understand the repercussions of an affair?
Sexual or emotional affairs can seem extremely exciting, but it’s not. An affair is the easy way out because there are no emotions involved other than the sexual ones. You may think you’re truly in love with your illicit partner, but if you ever do get into a real relationship with your adulterous lover, you may experience the same relationship problems all over again.
Successful relationships need understanding and love to prosper and succeed, and every real relationship needs effort. And your adulterous lover may not be the ideal partner for you, after all.
Why are you having an affair?
Do you really love your own partner? Why are you having an affair, really? Ask yourself these questions and try to understand what you really need. If you’re happy in a perfect relationship with your partner, why are you having an affair with your lover?
Is it about the sex, or is it just an exciting change that makes you happy? Or do you feel more desirable and attractive because you’re being wooed by someone else?
And are you willing to jeopardize your relationship and your life just to feel good for an hour of sex a few times a week?
Talk to a trusted friend for emotional support
An affair is like an exciting secret that you can’t wait to share. But yet, you have no choice but to keep it a secret.
If you really want to know how to end an affair, you need help from a trusted friend. Pour out your heart to a friend and tell them about everything and how you feel about it. Sometimes, talking to someone else can feel relieving and it’s always a good way to get in a second opinion on how to end an affair. And let’s not forget the emotional support that you need at a time like this.
Bring the affair’s excitement into your marriage
What does your affair give you that your present relationship doesn’t? Is it the mind blowing sex, the intimate connection or is it the communication? Whatever it may be, your real relationship too has the power to have all of that, be it sexual or intellectual.
Try to involve your partner more in your life and try to be gently vocal about your thoughts. Let your partner know what you want out of a happy relationship, sexually or otherwise, and try to bring the affair’s excitement into your own relationship. By experiencing the same emotions, you’d soon see that an affair isn’t really giving you anything more but a bag of guilt and fear.
Focus on the cons
Make a list of all the things that you don’t like about the affair, be it the guilt, the fear, the remorse, or the lack of anything solid other than sex. Spend a while and write down everything you can remember. Do you really have interesting conversations or is it all just about the sex?
You may think you’re in love your adulterous amour, but is it really love or is it just an escape from your boring or frustrating life? Read the list every now and then, when you’re missing your lover or waiting to hear from them. It’ll help you realize that you have more to lose than gain by staying in this affair.
And as long as you’re trying to work on your own relationship and have a good time, you’ll see that an affair is only causing you more confusion and pain than anything productive.
Pick flaws in your affair
You may throw your weight around your own partner or throw an occasional tantrum now and then. Have you tried that with your lover? How would they react?
Try to create issues in your illicit relationship or pick flaws in it. If you can’t walk out immediately because you’re too addicted, see how your lover reacts to your outbursts. Chances are, they’re no different from your own partner. As long as your illicit relationship revolves around sex, the relationship may seem exciting. But bring in a bit of real life into the affair, and you’ll see how illicit lovers change their behavior.
Now ask yourself, do you really need this?
Wipe away the signs of your affair
If you’ve made up your mind and understood that your real relationship is far more special and important than a love affair that lasts only within the sheets, it’s time to start wiping away the signs of your affair.
Does your lover have any pictures or videos that could put you in trouble? Or are there any other details that need to be wiped off? Be discreet, but thorough. Your lover may seem like a nice person, but seriously, you have no idea about their real personality because your entire relationship was only based on sex.
Get it to definitely end
It’s not easy but it’s something that has to be done. Speak with your lover and tell them that you can’t live like this anymore. Talk to your lover about the guilt and the fear your affair is causing you. Be clear and get it to definitely end. Explain your thoughts and why you want to take this decision. And once you’re done explaining yourself, end all contact and try to stay away from each other.
Be firm, but not rude. You don’t want to upset your lover or piss them off into trying to blackmail you.
Resist the temptation of getting back into the affair
You may want to know more about how to end an affair, but one of the biggest difficulties come after the affair is actually over. For a few weeks or months after you end the affair, you’d feel more vulnerable and the temptation to get back into an affair will be immense
This is when you need to focus on your own relationship with your partner and avoid thinking about your lover. Keep yourself occupied all the time, and read your list of reasons behind why you wanted to end the affair. And whenever you get the urge to make that call, remember the effort you put into getting out of the affair. And let that not go in vain. It takes strength, and as long as you’re determined, you’d be able to get over your affair with a smile.
If your lover calls you
Learn to firm yourself up when your lover calls you. They may plead, beg or even force you to come back, but stick to your decision. If you feel bad about it, explain your feelings clearly and try to explain why this would be the best solution for both of you.
Your lover would know that an affair is wrong business too, so if you do explain your reasons, they’d have no choice but to accept to end it even if they pursue you for a while.
Should you confess about your affair?
Now here’s another tricky part that comes in after you figure out how to end an affair. Once you’re certain your affair is over, you may feel guilty about your immoral deeds, even if you’re happy in a successful relationship with your partner.
If you can’t make up your mind on whether you should confess, read should you confess to cheating on your partner to help you decide based on the circumstances and your partner.
