Wild Affair!

The Price...
We no longer stone, flog, or crucify adulterers.There are no more scarlet letters.Yet, the price can be very costly when an affair is devulged.

Emotional Pain: The shock and resulting hurt that occurs when an affair is revealed goes to the deepest part of all of our human emotions. The pain experienced by the innocent mate can be unbearable.

Distrust: Trust is the foundation stone of every good relationship. Betrayal means having to rework one's entire perception of the other person. Once trust has been broken, it is very difficult to get it back. Most marriages do not survive an affair.

Family: Children are seriously affected by a parent's indiscretion and unfaithfulness to the other parent. Regardless of their age, they are likely to "take sides" with the innocent party, thus resulting in cutting off or alienating the errent parent. Unfortunately, this causes even more hurt but is one of the consequences of an affair.

Friends: When an affair is revealed, it evokes many different types of responses and reactions. Those who are level headed people in healthy relationships are more apt to be helpful to both parties. Those who have marital problems of their own will feel very threatened and will more than likely react instead.

Financial:A gilted mate can become so enraged that the monetary ramifications of an affair can result in the loss of everything that you have. There are few other dilemmas in a marriage relationship that produce such emotional anxiety. The tendency of the offended lover will be to become very vindictive and, should a divorce occur, the threat to your finances will be staggering. Bet on it. It's not right but it will be the reality.

The Preventatives...
We are less likely to allow ourselves to enter into an affair when we take the time to consider what the results might be. Also, human beings have safeguards built into them which instinctively respond to the danger signs which mark a marriage is being in trouble.

Jelousy: This emotion is usually considered to be a negative one. However, it may be the very thing that causes us to sense when our mate might be experiencing temptation. As a result, we instinctively step in and draw a line before infidelity has a chance to take place.

Consequences: This includes the loss of one's mate, respect of children, standing in the community, and the resulting financial problems that come with the breakup of a marriage.

Societal Controls: Laws, relgion, and high standards of moral responsibility instill within us a revulsion for cheating.

Keep the Passion Burning: Apathy and neglect are the two biggest killers of what was once a happy, healthy primary relationship.

Communicate: Talk with and listen to each other. A relationship between two people precludes one or both being a "Silent Sam." There must be ongoing, regular mutual communication if the marriage is to remain satisfying to both.