Betrayal can generate negative impacts on mental health; psychologist explains

This week, a subject gained momentum on social media: the player’s alleged betrayal Neymar with the girlfriend, Bruna Biancardi . The fact that the influencer was expecting the couple’s first child and that the “infidelity” happened on the eve of Valentine’s Day made the story gain even more weight.

For the psychologist and master in psychology and health Ana Streit the impact of the negative consequences of the breach of trust can directly affect the mental health of the betrayed person.

“Some studies point out that a betrayal can generate a picture of symptoms very similar to those of the betrayed. PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). This means that, emotionally and physically, those who have been betrayed experience post-trauma reactions, like someone who was robbed or suffered a serious car accident, for example. In this situation, recurrent and ruminative thoughts about betrayal generate a feeling of vulnerability and loss of control in those who suffered the trauma”, comments the specialist.

In addition, according to the psychologist, betrayal can trigger anxiety and hypervigilance, such as sleep problems, concentration, isolation, anger or desire for revenge.

“This is exactly what the study published in Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity shows, which revealed that the wives of men who had a high pattern of infidelity, when confronted with events of disloyalty from their partners, experienced symptoms of stress similar to those experienced by individuals with PTSD.”

How to prevent a betrayal from happening?

Getting over a betrayal is a long and challenging process. Therefore, in order to avoid it, the couple needs to build a relationship with a high metric of trust and connection. The higher this metric, the lower the chance of infidelity being seen as a possibility present in the minds of people in the relationship, as the efforts of both will be in strengthening the relationship, says one of the expert’s tips.

According to the psychologist, dialogue and sincerity are always good allies in a loving relationship. “With a high trust metric, both partners experience a sense of having a solid foundation, which increases the likelihood that the relationship will remain happy in the long run. A low trust metric indicates that the couple needs to have honest conversations about the relationship, about how much they trust each other and are willing to build more transparency and investment in the relationship, either alone or seeking specialized help, such as couples therapy”, explains.

Ana Streit also emphasizes the importance of psychological or psychiatric help to overcome trauma caused by betrayal. “Two attitudes are essential: activating the support network, friends, family, people who can welcome and offer physical and emotional support, while the individual restructures, and seek professional treatment so that he can recover from the trauma. Specialized follow-up aims to make the person effective and agile in dealing with the wound of attachment that is betrayal, as well as not getting lost in the midst of pain and suffering, being able to reorganize themselves as soon as possible and move on. ”

Streit’s tips reveal that the path to healing can be arduous, but it is possible. With professional help, resilience and determination, any individual can overcome the negative impacts of an affair and rediscover trust in a relationship.

Source: CNN Brasil

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