Expert Reveals How To Spot The Subtle Signs Your Partner Might Be Cheating

Discovering that your partner has betrayed you, especially after sharing such a personal bond, can be one of the most painful experiences anyone can go through.

You might chalk up certain behaviors to annoying habit changes, but these small behaviors can also be signs of "micro-cheating," a form of unfaithfulness.

In some cases, it isn’t obvious why someone might take such a hurtful step. Learning the subtle hints that could indicate cheating can help you protect yourself from further heartbreak.

To guide you through this difficult situation, UK-based psychotherapist Bhavna Raithatha has highlighted four key signs that may indicate your partner is involved in an affair.

Constantly on Their Phone

While this can vary depending on your relationship, the key here is to notice how their behavior around their phone has changed. Reflect on how they used to handle their device.

If they used to leave it lying around without much care but now always keep it close or even change the pin, it might be worth considering.

"If they listened to things or called people on loudspeaker but now it's hushed voices," Raithatha explained to The Daily Mail.

"What they're doing is shutting their life down, layer by layer by layer from their current partner."

"Affairs don't just suddenly happen, it's a multi-step process."

Is your partner always on their phone and won't let it leave their sight? Getty stock

Changes in the Bedroom

There are actually two signs within this category that could indicate a cheating partner.

The psychotherapist explained that if you once had a regular, active sex life that has suddenly cooled off without a clear reason, this may suggest they are finding intimacy elsewhere.

Interestingly, the reverse can also be true. If your partner suddenly wants to be intimate more often, they might be using the encounters as a physical release unrelated to emotional connection.

Raithatha shared: "'Intimacy is physical and emotional. What you've been sharing with your partner is very sacred. It really bonds us. With an affair, you have an increased libido, for this reason you become like a Duracell bunny."

"And partners, who may temporarily feel guilty about this [cheating], redirect this heightened sex drive towards their current partner."

"But it may just be a physical release to release tension — not emotional."

She added, "Many of my clients have realised that their partner is having an affair when they're making love."

"Suddenly their partner is simply just going through the motions, there's no eye contact for example and this is heartbreaking."

Has eye contact faded away during your most intimate moments? Getty stock images

Quick to Lose Their Temper

Raithatha shared that several clients have noticed their partners becoming irritable and snapping more easily when confronted about their actions. This sudden aggression can be a potential warning sign of infidelity.

"When they start slamming doors or putting their fists through plasterboard and become threatening, it's to frighten you to stay quiet," she noted.

"They don't want you going and telling extended family members for instance or friends."

"If your partner is becoming challenging, it's self protection, because they don't want to be found out. It's their secret. They know there will be repercussions."

Has your partner gradually got more and more aggressive? Getty stock

Gaslighting Behavior

Many people are familiar with the term gaslighting, which is a form of emotional manipulation that makes the victim doubt their own memory and perception.

According to Raithatha, unfaithful partners often use gaslighting as a tactic, projecting their own wrongdoing onto their partner. She shared, "They are the ones in the wrong having the affair, but they're blaming you. They're putting you under the microscope."

"They may say things like, 'Oh you smell nice, you're dressing nice, you're eating better, why is that? Who is that for?'"

"And this is devastating. You may feel like you're losing your mind because of it."

"They're projecting their insecurities onto you."

"They will also do this in public, so at the pub or in a restaurant, for example, in front of your friends. They want to sow the seed of doubt in front of everyone. They're gathering a crowd, drip feeding them lies."