People Who Previously Had Affairs That Ended Their Relationships Get Candid On Why They Cheated

"It's not my proudest moment but I can't change it."

Chelsi

• Published in Interesting
• July 1, 2022

There is no exact number that can quantify how many people cheat because not every affair is reported. When the data is combined from several studies, it shows that in the US about 15% to 20% of married couples cheat.

The reality is that the older people get, the more likely they are to have an affair. Infidelity also accounts for roughly 20 to 40 percent of divorces.

These statistics don't even include people who aren't married. We can only imagine how many relationships end because of affairs.

The biggest mystery still is the reason for the infidelity. If you're that unhappy, why not just end the relationship and begin a new one with the person you're attracted to?

It turns out that the reasons why people cheat are a lot more complicated than we would like to believe. It's easy to speculate about other people's relationships but we are not likely to know the real reason why people choose to cheat.

Cheaters are often shamed by their actions and are not forthcoming with their motivations. One thing is clear, in most cases, it's not only about sex.

Reading through this viral Reddit thread certainly supports that. On a rare occasion, cheaters were given the platform to air out why they cheated and it was enlightening. You can read some of their answers below.

1. This person cheated because his partner told him nobody else would want him and he wanted to prove her wrong

2. Their relationships had sketchy origins but they lasted. Good for them, I guess.

3. Yes, it is technically an affair and the level of justification in this story is astounding

It's good that you seem to have made peace and all that but it was still an affair

4. This dude who was unwittingly roped into an affair with a woman who failed to share she was still techically married to her husband who believed they were working on their marriage

5. The classic your affair partner will eventually cheat on you as well

6. Who would have thought sexual awakening could happen at a bank

7. The cheater wife asked for an open marriage...

... inadvertently introduced her husband to his affair partner and future wife

8. Kissed another woman the night before his wedding. Bought a house with his new wife.

Asked for separation to be with the girl he kissed. She eventually left him and he now considers the affair the biggest mistake of his life.

9. Revenge short affair

10. The dad who was given another chance but he blew it again by having another affair

11. The serial cheater who sleep-confessed his affair

20 years later, he is still playing his games and he's a predator now as well

12. This husband who cheated on his wife with their threesome partner

13. The shoulder to cry on that turned into a 5-year affair

14. It's common for professionals who travel a lot for work to have someone on the side

15. This was one hell of a read

16. The affair partner that was strung along by the rockstar's wife

He is still trying to fix the mess he made

17. This lady who took her therapist's advice out of context and decided to cheat beause self-love

18. The guy who cheated on his wife because he felt trapped in their marriage

Here he is trying to make it sound like he had no choice

19. This person who fell in love with his gym instructor and are now happily together for 16 years

20. The trivia host who lost her marriage but stayed with her affair partner

21. This person whose needs weren't being met in their relationship

Actively seeked out his female friends and coworkers

22. This guy who cheated on his wife during a vulnerable time in his life

He explained the situation further and admits it was a mistake and hopes he can help others learn from his tragic mistake

23. The grass is indeed greener for these two

24. That realization was too little, too late

25. Short but honest

26. There is rarely a neat resolution to these affairs as this person admits

27. You lose it how you found it, eh?

28. They like to keep the affair in the family

29. The erotic stories author who had too much fun with a married fan

30. Mental health issues and affair don't mix well together

31. Is this a Grey's Anatomy episode?

32. Good for you for cutting it off but you can't wash your hands off of your part in the affair

33. Should have waited for the divorce to finalize, buddy

34. After putting a ton of dayglo stars, I'm sure you didn't intend for it to blow her mind. Sure.

35. That is one hell of a daily routine you kept up for three months

We can sit here and judge all we want but we will never truly know about the complexities of other people's relationships. That is not to say we are excusing the affairs they had.

From what we've read, cheating affects a lot more than the couple and the affair partner. The consequences of the infidelity last for years and the scars last a long time.

Chelsi