Infidelity PTSD is Real

Your worst nightmare has been confirmed. You discovered that your partner was cheating on you. You feel betrayed. Hurt. You are not eating or sleeping. You are experiencing nightmares, flashbacks, and you have intrusive thoughts.

Although a few months passed, you find yourself reliving the day you discovered the infidelity. Going back in your mind and playing it repeatedly. There are days which you are feeling great and suddenly you tear up or you feel a wave of rage taking over you. You want to let go but you can’t. You are hijacked by your emotions.

In addition, you may be experiencing physical symptoms: headaches, backpains and more.

Are you losing your mind? What is going on?

You are suffering from PISD- Post Infidelity Stress Disorder. 60% of people who experienced infidelity report experiencing symptoms like the ones experienced in PTSD- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. These symptoms can last from a week to a few months.

Although PISD is not an official diagnosis, it doesn’t make it less real or less difficult.

Why does this happen?

Infidelity can be traumatic. The trust was broken. The feeling of safety was shattered. It can trigger past traumas. If you experienced trauma in the past, you are more likely to experience PISD. The severity of the symptoms depends on the way you internalized the infidelity.

What can you do?

It is important to understand PISD and its symptoms. Knowing that what you are experiencing is a response to trauma can help normalize your experience and give you hope.

As with PTSD, one of the most effective ways to cope with infidelity is to surround yourself with support: family and friends.

Another way is to engage in activities which give you pleasure such as: Go to the GYM, join a Yoga class, join a walking group, or pick up a new hobby.

Give yourself time to heal.

Remember that you went through a painful experience which left you hurting, lonely and insecure.