This is micro cheating.
Navigating infidelity and feelings around it can be challenging, especially when it comes to micro cheating.
You may wonder whether you are misreading the situation and overreacting to something innocent.
Francesco Riccardo Iacomino / Getty Images
What Is Micro Cheating?
Everyone has varying levels of comfort with how close their partner gets to other people.
Behaviors that seem innocent or harmless to some people can feel like a significant breach of trust to others.
When Does Micro Cheating Cross the Line Into Full-Fledged Cheating?
Rather than reacting emotionally, it can be helpful to wait until youve calmed down to process the situation.
You dont have to hide your awareness of the situation or bring it up passive aggressively.
Instead, take some time to cool down and think about what happened and how its making you feel.
Then, discuss it with your partner when youre ready.
Have an honest discussion with your partner about your concerns.
Explain how their actions made you feel and why you consider them a violation of your boundaries.
Listen to their side of the story.
Decide what is acceptable and what isnt for each of you.
Work on Strengthening Your Bond
Micro cheating does not necessarily mean yourrelationshipis over, says de Llano.
Seek Support
Dealing with infidelity can be difficult.
A 2023 study notes that discovering a partners infidelity can cause stress, heartache, and even trauma.
Serial infidelity across subsequent relationships.Arch Sex Behav.
2023;20(5):3904. doi:10.3390/ijerph20053904
