Emotional Affairs in Midlife What is emotional infidelity and how you can stop it.

BY: CHERIE BURBACH

SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES

You can recover from emotional cheating, but you need to take steps to change your behavior.

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Has your marriage been affected by an emotional affair? Emotional affairs have become a more common issue in midlife marriage, especially as couples redefine what infidelity is in their relationship.

Definition of an Emotional Affair in Midlife

Emotional affairs, also called emotional infidelity or cheating, occur when one spouse has a deep attachment to someone else. Physical intimacy does not need to be present in order for an emotional affair to happen, but often this type of cheating does lead to a physical affair.

I've got a crush on the woman next door - does it mean I'm a lesbian?

Out of nowhere I had this massive desire to kiss her, and I’ve been beside myself ever since

• By Coleen Nolan

  

  Dear Coleen, 
  
  

  I’m a Scottish lady of 36 and I’ve developed a terrible crush on my next-door neighbour. I’m married to a soldier, but we’re separated.
  Our relationship just seemed to fizzle out over the last couple of years – probably because we didn’t see enough of each other as he’s been stationed abroad most of the time.
  

Embracing Femininity: Helping Gender Confused Girls

Chuck Colson

A little girl named Jessica could not remember a time when she did not have crushes on female teachers. She hid her feelings behind a tough, sarcastic persona. When she hit adolescence, Jessica insisted on being called “Jess,” cut her hair short, and hid her developing body under layers of boys’ clothing.

As Dr. Joseph Nicolosi writes in his book, A Parent’s Guide to Preventing Homosexuality, Jessica was contemptuous of her mother, a delicate, feminine woman subject to depression. Jessica viewed her mother as weak, and had no intention of growing up to be like her.

But Jessica sincerely wanted to understand why she was so conflicted about accepting her gender, and began therapy with Nicolosi. Jessica eventually told him that for years, she had been molested by an uncle.