I appreciate your situation, and what you’re doing is difficult, but you can get through this: First, keep the channel of communication with your partner, open and active. A single conversation isn’t going to do it for you. You may need to process what happened, together, at different times in the relationship, and in your own separate lives, in different ways. Keep talking and keep checking with each other about your own love and commitment. And confide in a close friend or family member. You’ll feel relief and may be surprised at the good advice and nurturing you receive in exchange. Accept that the relationship is not the same as it was and that’s okay. It’s different now– and it can end up being stronger than it was. Different isn’t worse. In fact, it can be better. Next, understand that your healing process (and the relationship’s) is not a straight line. It’s curvy and circuitous and it backtracks before it goes forward. So be patient while being tenacious. Third, forget this other woman and don’t confront her. Disregard her completely. She betrayed your friendship and your marriage. Giving her energy is giving her credence. Next. And lastly, take care of yourself. Physically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. Do what you need to do to renew your care of you! That’s the best way to make a relationship with someone else better, is to start with your baseline: yourself. 🙂 I hope this helps.
