Do you ever get a sneaking suspicion that your partner may be unfaithful to you? Is it just a passing thought that all of us have or are there actual signs that you’ve been noticing lately? It may surprise you that there is documented research that can actually back up the infidelity that you may suspect. One study has estimated that more than 25% of married men and 20% of married women engage in extramarital sex over the course of their relationships…and this study was only looking at married couples. If you have an inkling that something is up, here are five signs to watch for that may mean your partner is cheating on you.
Go With Your Gut Instinct
1 – Has your level of physical closeness changed?
Often times, this is the first hint that something might be wrong – perhaps your partner is wanting to spend less time with you being intimate…or maybe they want more sex now. Either change could indicate that their needs are being met somewhere else, whether it’s only emotional closeness or a physical intimacy. Be sure to watch for subtle changes in body language as well. Sometimes our physical stance and movement can indicate our unspoken thoughts or wishes.
2 – Has your partner changed his or her appearance in any way?
This is also a huge red flag that something has changed in a relationship. Is he or she taking more showers now? Spending more money on new clothes or grooming? Going to the gym regularly where before he or she was happy being a couch potato with you? Changes in appearance are always something that should catch your attention, even if it’s something subtle such as more frequent manicures or more interest in working out. If your partner is trying to improve their appearance, make sure that it’s for you and not for someone else.
3 – Has there been an increase in cash withdrawals lately?
Another clue that your spouse may be cheating on you is an increase in the amount of cash that is being taken out of the ATM, especially if he or she is going to lesser-known locations than his or her normal routine. It’s much easier to cheat using cash since there aren’t any paper trails, so be watchful if you notice this happening. It’s always a good idea to follow the money, especially if you have combined accounts already.
4 – Has your partner become more tightfisted when it comes to his or her electronics?
Our cell phones are typically our connection to social media, our look into our bank accounts, our calendars, our entertainment, and our method of communicating with everyone now. If your partner has recently become overly possessive of her cell phone – gets agitated when you touch it or refuses to give it to you if you ask to borrow it – that may be a red flag that he or she is trying to hide something. You also may want to check out his or her computer, tablet, or cell phone history in order to determine what sites they’ve been on…or if the history has been regularly cleared (another sign that your partner doesn’t want you to find something out). Deleting emails and/or emptying the trash every time may be a sign of something going on that they don’t want you to know. According to Manhattan private investigator Darrin Giglio, “The Internet and social media have made it easier than ever to cheat. Be aware of your partner’s regular usage patterns and if those change.”
5 – Have there been any recent changes in his or her schedule?
Is your partner all of a sudden needing to go out of town “on business” more than usual? Is he or she working late most nights where before they were home at a regular hour? This is another sign that your partner may be cheating on you. Most people are creatures of habit so you should know what his or her regular schedule is like. It might warrant a closer look at his or her daily calendar (or phone calendar app!) to see if there is really an uptick in the amount of work or if something else is going on. Often, business dinners, nighttime vendor meetings, and random business trips out of town are masking something else so be wary if they start cropping up.
If you have noticed some of these signs and truly suspect that your partner is cheating on you, the best avenue may be for you to consider hiring a private investigator find out the truth for you. Professional private investigators can obtain hard evidence such as photos, videos, call logs, GPS logs, and other methods of investigation for you to consider. Then, and only then, can you decide what to do about a cheating partner.
