Being cheated on in an intimate relationship is often unbearable and entirely distressful. The thought alone is a huge source of emotional and psychological stress, which can make one vulnerable to depression.
The betrayal, distrust and being taken for granted are issues that continue to reoccur as the betrayed partner ponders over their partners’ infidelity. You think about the sacrifices made for the growth of the relationship and many times you’ve gone out of your way so your partner could succeed.
These back-and-forth thoughts culminate in overthinking. Succinctly, overthinking is a situation where someone is obsessed over one thought or series of thoughts to an extent where the person’s life is negatively affected.
Because of the heartbreak that comes with infidelity, you may not have control over your overthinking. As your mind continues to search for reasons where there are none. But the truth remains that the least of your issues cannot be solved by overthinking.
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Instead, your overthinking becomes a burden and even a greater problem more than the heartbreak you’re already going through. However, your major concern should be: how to stop overthinking after being cheated on? Because, keeping your overthinking under control is a proactive strategy to overcome the heartbreak.
How to stop overthinking after being cheated on? 8 surefire ways
If you’ve been betrayed by your partner, there’s no point going through another heartbreak by overthinking the issue. The best option is to immediately begin the healing process and start forgetting your past. First, you have to get the ideas on how to stop overthinking after being cheated on.
1. Take care of yourself
Research has shown that heartbreak is not the only cause of overthinking. Stress, fear,l and lack of confidence can also cause overthinking. Therefore, the primary way to stop overthinking is by taking care of yourself.
Don’t allow yourself to be held down by your reoccurring thoughts. Go out and have a little fun. Make sure you eat healthily and start exercising regularly. You can also talk to your friends on different issues that could keep your mind off the past.
Above all, you can seek therapy. A professional relationship therapist can assist you in your recovery and help you see reasons to move on.
2. Move out of your environment
Our environments have a great influence on our thought process and feelings. We’re readily attached to and quite thoughtful of what we see and feel in our immediate environment.
Staying within the same environment after a breakup would not help your overthinking. You’d see things that would consistently remind you of what happened and what’s going on.
The best thing to do at this moment is to change your environment. You have to catch flights not feelings. Traveling can be quite helpful at this moment as it’s fun and excitement would consume your mind.
3. Forgive and move on with your life
No matter how difficult it might be, forgiveness is the fastest route to peace of mind. You don’t have to bear grudges for long because bearing grudges for someone is like drinking poison and expecting another person to die.
How to stop overthinking after being cheated on?
Your grudges won’t solve the problem. You have to summon courage and forgive them for your own peace of mind. This could be very difficult especially when you’re betrayed by someone you deeply loved.
However, what you have to do is what could make you feel better – forgiveness is indeed one of them. Forgive them and move on with your life. If you have other reasons to continue the relationship, fine. But if infidelity is a deal-breaker in your relationship, you have to call it quits and move on. You deserve better.
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4. Start doing something you love
We all have some things we deeply love doing. It could be playing football, practicing yoga, dancing, doing TikTok videos, among others. These hobbies are pain relievers and could help you think little about the past.
How to stop overthinking after being cheated on? Start doing something you love. Your thoughts would be on these things and you’d have little energy to spare your dishonest partner.
In the process of doing something you love, you stand a chance of discovering your true happiness once more and you’d understand that peace of mind can be found elsewhere other than in a relationship.
5. Accept the things you can’t change
It is a complete waste of time and energy to think seriously about circumstances you cannot change. You can’t change them because they are undeserving of your thoughts.
The deed has already been done and your overthinking can do nothing to salvage the situation. Why then punish yourself by overthinking?
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How to stop overthinking after being cheated on? Accept the things you can’t change and move on with your life.
6. Don’t entertain unnecessary questions
Unnecessary questions or unanswerable questions as the case maybe, are subtle reminders of what you’re going through. Avoid them completely. The questions of what-ifs and whys are totally unnecessary and inconsequential.
Trying to find answers to these questions would only reopen the wounds. Don’t ruminate over them. You have been betrayed and you owe no one any explanation, not even yourself.
7. Join a support group
People may not fancy this idea because of being ridiculed, but joining a support group could be very helpful when you’re in serious distress. Instead of regurgitating the thoughts, let them out.
There are other people in the support group who might be passing through similar issues or have been in your shoes in the past. They have the experience to put you through and their empathy could be quite comforting.
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8. Do nice things to people
At this point your self-esteem and ego might be suffering a bruise. If not well managed, depression might come in.
How to stop overthinking after being cheated on? Doing something nice to people would make you rediscover your value as their appreciation and acknowledgements trip in.
These kind gestures would remind you of how much you’re needed by other people and how important you’re to others.
Bottom Line
How to stop overthinking after being cheated on is something you should know to avoid slipping into depression after experiencing heartbreak. Certainly, the despairing thoughts would trip in but you shouldn’t give them the opportunity to mess with your mental health by overthinking.
Quickly push the past where it belongs and see other reasons to remain happy. If you have other important reasons or conviction to continue the relationship, fine. But if you’re still doubtful that their remorse or infidelity was a deal-breaker in your relationship, you have to call it quits. Your peace of mind is paramount and you deserve better.