Partner Betrayal

What is betrayal? Defined by Wikipedia-Betrayal is the breaking or violation of a presumptive contract, trust, or confidence that produces moral and psychological conflict within a relationship among individuals, between organizations or between individuals and organizations. 

It is a feeling, a thought, a gut wrenching physical reaction, it is broken trust.  There are many forms of betrayal, but when you have experienced a Relational Betrayal there is one way out of the pain, healing. The wounded, the relationship, the one who wounded must heal. If you, the partner (the wounded),is willing to heal just know you may have to do it alone. If the one who wounded you is unwilling to "see you and hear you", it can be lonely, but also empowering and a strength building journey. If the one who hurt you is willing to help you heal, there is one foundation that must be repaired in order to move forward in the relationship, that is trust. It is the bedrock of all healthy relationships. Without it there is no emotional safety, which then means there can be no real emotional intimacy. 

In the last few years solid research is showing that a Relational Trauma can produce symptoms in the human body to warrant a diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, in fact 70% of partners experience PTSD after his/ her partner has committed a Relational Betrayal. Other trauma disorders a betrayal can cause are: Acute Stress Disorder, Complex- PTSD, and Adjustment Disorder. Whether the betrayal is enough to warrant a Trauma diagnosis,a breach of trust in a relationship will likely causes other emotional dyregulation manifesting in physical and emotional negative consequences on the body.

It is important to have a trained therapist in the field of Relational Trauma to guide you and hopefully your relationship on the path of healing.