Signs Of Cheating: 33 Things People Say Before They Cheat

Few people enter into a relationship with the express intention of committing infidelity. However, the harrowing truth is that cheating is a reality for far too many couples. So, what can you do to avoid having your heart broken? The first step is learning the signs that your partner is cheating (or at least thinking about it). For instance, you’ll want to be careful if they’re getting overly curious about when you’ll be home. And if they accuse you of being paranoid, they could be gaslighting you to cover up their own guilt. Read on to hear from therapists about the things people say that are signs of cheating.

READ THIS NEXT: 7 Body Language Signs That Mean Your Partner Is Cheating, According to Therapists.

1 “You’re being paranoid.”

Ironically, an easy way to tell if your spouse is cheating on you is by how often they accuse you of cheating—another classic gaslighting tactic.

“This is often a sign of self-guilt, and it also will put the blame on you, causing you to be on the defense and distracted from their actions,” says Bethany Ricciardi, a sex and relationship expert with TooTimid. “It’s quite manipulative… because they get so upset during the conversation, you start to think they hate cheating and would never do it to you, when in reality they might have already.”

3 “We’re just friends; I don’t even find them attractive.”

On its own, this is a sweet sentiment. But if your partner is suddenly seeking more physical affection from you, it could be that they’re trying to make themselves feel better about their infidelity.

“Clinginess could come from guilt or diverting attention from themselves,” notes Lawless.

READ THIS NEXT: If Your Partner Has These 4 Qualities, They’re More Likely to Cheat on You.

6 “Have I told you how good you look today?”