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When you’re dating someone you love, the last thing you want to do is assume they’re cheating on you. But if you feel insecure or scared, you might accuse your GF of cheating, even when you know she’s not. [1] This is nothing to be ashamed about—lots of people go through this, and working through it may be easier than you think. Read through this article to learn why you might be having these feelings and what you can do to stop them.

1

Acknowledge the feelings that you’re having.

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  1. The first step in changing these feelings is diving deep to figure out why, exactly, you’re feeling this way. Many people accuse their partners of cheating because they’re afraid or they’re insecure, so sit down with yourself and uncover the real reason why you’re feeling this way. [2] [3]
    • It’s less common, but some people do accuse their partners of cheating because they themselves are cheating or almost cheating. If that’s the case, you may want to examine your own actions to make sure you’re being faithful and not crossing any boundaries.
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2

Work through past pain and trauma.

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  1. If you dated someone in the past who cheated on you or betrayed your trust, it’s only natural that you’d be suspicious of your current girlfriend (even if it’s unwarranted). [4] [5] Try to get out and engage with life, and lean on family and friends for support. [6]
3

Talk to your girlfriend about what’s going on.

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4

Address any underlying issues in your relationship.

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  1. Sit down and think about your relationship, and try to bring up any issues that are making you upset. If you can work through the problems in your relationship, you’ll both feel much better. [9]
    • Maybe your girlfriend is doing something that makes you feel insecure, like DMing people on social media or chatting with guys when she’s out. Try talking to her about this and addressing the problem so you don’t keep thinking about it over time.
    • Talk to her using “I feel” statements. For instance, you might say, “I sometimes feel worried that you’re talking to other dudes online.” [10]
6

Challenge your fear-based thinking.

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  1. It’s normal to be worried about infidelity sometimes, but it’s important not to let those thoughts affect your life. If you start to have thoughts like, “If my girlfriend goes out tonight, she’s going to cheat on me,” challenge them with something like, “Is it helpful to think this way?” or, “What evidence do I have to support this thought?” [12]
    • It can take some time for these challenges to actually stick. The more you can call attention to your fear-based thoughts, the easier it will be to change them over time.
9

Maintain your independence.

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      References

      1. Vernita Marsh, PhD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Consultant, & Speaker. Expert Interview. 7 April 2022.
      2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5380380/
      3. Vernita Marsh, PhD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Consultant, & Speaker. Expert Interview. 7 April 2022.
      4. https://psychcentral.com/blog/healing-the-wounds-of-betrayal#1
      5. Vernita Marsh, PhD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Consultant, & Speaker. Expert Interview. 7 April 2022.
      6. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-mindful-self-express/201512/the-3-most-common-causes-insecurity-and-how-beat-them
      7. Vernita Marsh, PhD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Consultant, & Speaker. Expert Interview. 7 April 2022.
      8. https://www.loveisrespect.org/resources/things-that-crossed-the-line-for-me/
      9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5380380/

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