A healthy relationship can significantly improve your life. The right person can make you stronger, more motivated, and better in just about every way.
However, if you’ve been in the relationship game for long, you know that love can be fleeting. Many of us fall into and out of love very quickly. However, when those feelings don’t last, some people choose to be unfaithful rather than work to improve the relationship or break it off altogether.
To protect yourself, you must learn how to tell if your partner is cheating. It’s not a happy subject, but it’s always better to know the truth.
Keep reading for an in-depth guide to the warning signs that the person you love may no longer be faithful to you.
1. They Are Overly Protective of Their Phone
95 percent of Americans own a cell phone of some kind. While they’ve made our lives much easier and less stressful in most ways, they’ve also made it easy for people to be unfaithful.
For most people, phones are the central hub of their entire personal and professional existence, including talking to someone they shouldn’t be. If your spouse or partner is acting shady about their phone, you may have cause for concern.
Here are some behaviors to pay attention to:
- They never leave you and the phone alone in the same room
- They turn the phone face-down when they set it down
- They end phone calls or texting when you walk in the room
- You notice them using apps like Snapchat to talk to people you’ve never heard of
If they never let you handle their phone to make calls, texts, or look something up, you’re justified in feeling uneasy.
2. They Turn Their Phone off When You’re Together
Another tip on how to tell if your partner is cheating on you is if they turn their phone off completely whenever you’re together. While they may say something like “I want to give you my undivided attention,” it’s more likely they don’t want random calls, texts, Snapchats, or other messages coming through.
Most people would put their phone on silent-mode if they didn’t want to be constantly interrupted. However, a phone that’s turned off won’t be vibrating, lighting up, and displaying incoming messages all night. It could be an extreme act of giving you all their attention, or it could be a warning sign.
3. They’re Suddenly Nicer or More Helpful
Guilt is a heck of a thing. When a person feels guilty for wronging someone, they often go out of their way to make it up to that person. This isn’t to make up for what they’ve done, it’s to make themselves feel better about it.
If your partner is nicer or more helpful all of a sudden, it may be because they feel guilty about something. Pay attention to sudden behaviors such as:
- Random gift-giving
- Cleaning out your car
- Doing your laundry
- Getting your groceries
- Being more physically or verbally affectionate
Your partner may be chipping in around the house to make you happy, but trust your gut.
4. Periods of No Contact
Another red flag that often indicates unfaithfulness is when your partner starts having periods of “radio silence.” If your significant other randomly becomes unreachable for a few hours during the day or night, it could mean they’re with someone else.
Pay attention to patterns, however. If it’s always been this way due to their line of work, don’t overreact. However, if this is new and you feel like they’re making excuses, it may be time to look deeper into the issue.
5. Your Sex Life Has Changed
If your sex life suddenly drops off the face of the earth and it’s not on your end, it could mean your partner is getting it somewhere else. They’re either no longer interested in having sex with you or feel too guilty to touch you. Alternatively, they may be so invested with their new flame that they don’t want to feel unfaithful to them.
On the other hand, cheaters have been known to ramp up their sex life with their original partners once they start affairs as well. They end up feeling invigorated and turned on more due to their new relationship. While this is an easy tip on how to tell if your partner is cheating, it can make you feel used and dirty.
6. They Suddenly Become More Invested in Their Appearance
A person who’s suddenly started working out, eating healthy, and paying more attention to their appearance could be doing so for a new love interest. If your partner strikes up a new gym membership and suddenly becomes more invested in their physical appearance, it may not be for you.
In this scenario, it may be worth it to hire a private investigator to get some answers. Just make sure you know what questions to ask.
7. They’ve Taken up a New Hobby That Excludes You
Sometimes, a new hobby such as going to the gym, running, playing pool, or going to art classes may be a cover for meeting up with someone else. If your partner has suddenly taken up an interest in a new hobby, especially one that excludes you, it could be a major warning sign.
Ask them some intimate details about what they do, why they started doing it, and what the exact schedule is. If they stumble around their answers or seem taken off-guard, you may have a reason to be concerned.
8. They Start Coming Home Later
Another tip on how to tell if your partner is cheating is a sudden change in their work schedule, especially if that change includes working late nights. This can be even more telling if you’ve never known them to work late nights in the past.
When they come home from their “late night at work,” see if they’re guarded about the way they smell, how they look, etc. If they make a straight line towards the bathroom to change and brush their teeth, it’s probably a bad sign.
9. They Start Having Unexpected Mood Swings
Finally, pay attention to your partner’s mood. Guilt also plays a large role in our other emotions and feelings, often leading to irritability, being defensive, or being overly kind.
If your partner’s attitude is different and/or prone to mood swings, it may be because they’re hiding something and feeling guilty.
Don’t Know How to Tell If Your Partner Is Cheating?
If you suspect you’re in an unfaithful relationship but don’t know how to tell if your partner is cheating, it may be beneficial to just ask. Be upfront about your suspicions and gauge their reaction, and they may come forward with the truth. Otherwise, talk to the people around you about your concerns (being careful not to slander your partner’s name in case you’re wrong).
