Trust is one of the most important components of a successful relationship. When you’re in a relationship with someone else, you have to trust that your partner wants to be with you, trust that she cares about your happiness, trust that he is going to be there for you in a time of need, and trust she will continue to be a part of your life in the future.
Betrayal, both physical and emotional, can be devastating for the relationship. For many, it is the ultimate breakdown of trust. Yet while some couples see betrayal as the ultimate end to their love and relationship, others want to find a way to work through it. Doing so, however, requires a very careful process so that the breakdown in trust can be overcome.
What is Betrayal?
Men and women often experience betrayal differently. Men tend to be more upset by physical betrayal, such as infidelity. Women tend to be upset by both physical and emotional infidelity even without sex involved, such as when their partner falls in love with another woman. There are also forms of betrayal that are not sex or love related.
Betrayal, above all else, is a thorough breakdown of the trust that was built in a relationship. When one person “betrays” another, it implies that the individual has performed some type of action that is the exact opposite of what their partner was expecting from them and their relationship.
Can Betrayal Be Overcome?
Betrayal is a very serious breach in a relationship. There are many couples that simply cannot overcome the betrayal, irrespective of how strong their love was before the betrayal events occurred. For others, their love for their partner and their desire to keep moving the relationship forward means that they do want to work to overcome the breakdown in trust, even if they are currently very hurt.
With the latter perspective, betrayal can be overcome. But both partners have to be thoroughly committed to the process. It can take a long time. It will involve a considerable amount of patience. It will often involve hearing some very difficult and hurtful details and information. But those that are willing to commit to the process can overcome the challenge of betrayal.
In the next post, we will look at some of the ways that couples can work to overcome betrayal in their relationship and rebuild trust. It can also help to work with a Long Island couples counselor. If you need assistance after betrayal in your relationship, give me a call today at (516) 732-0273.
