Is She Cheating Or Am I Just Anxious? 10 Signs To Tell Your Girlfriend Is Cheating

Occasional feelings of jealousy are completely normal. Jealous feelings can even strengthen romantic relationships in some circumstances.

However, a continual questioning of whether your girl is unfaithful or she’s hiding something doesn't do either of you any good. If you suspect she’s cheating but you don’t dig deeper to understand the reason behind these thoughts, it can build resentment and distrust in the relationship.

If thoughts of "Is she cheating or am I paranoid" are keeping you up at night and preventing you from normal functioning, it's time to get to the bottom of it. Let's dive into the potential signs your girlfriend is cheating on you.

Looking for the signs your girlfriend is cheating

A good way to start is to look at the red flags that your lady may be cheating. If you're convinced that she's cheating, you'll need to address it in a way that produces honest answers.

Girlfriend cheating? The first step is forgiveness

This is an important step so that you can get to the heart of her possible infidelity and decide to work on forgiving her and rebuilding the relationship or ending it. If the truth is she’s cheating, you’ll need to talk and decide what steps to take.

People cheat in life, but it doesn’t have to be the end of a relationship. It’s a good sign if she does feel guilty and tells you the truth. It is a strong indication that she knows she was wrong and is remorseful. So now you need to ask some important questions. Do you both want to stay and work on the relationship? Will she stop talking to and seeing the new partner?

If you find that all signs point to her being faithful, the problem rests with you. You may need help from a licensed counselor or relationship coach to resolve your feelings of jealousy and suspicion so that you can have a healthier relationship moving forward.

View jealousy as a wake-up call

Jealousy in a relationship stirs up a host of painful feelings: fear, humiliation, sadness, mistrust, and various other hurtful emotions. Jealousy doesn't discriminate by age, race, gender, or anything else. It hits all people with equal force. Most women and men will feel jealous at some point, but if it’s a reoccurring issue, it’s worth having a talk about.

Consequences of jealousy

Jealousy rears its ugly head when someone perceives a threat to their relationship. It can be a real or imagined threat, and that's where the confusion comes in.

One popular site says that jealousy should be a wake-up call because a valued relationship could be dangerous. Jealousy has some redeeming qualities. It motivates people to relationships they value and has the potential to preserve social bonds.

Jealousy to paranoia

When left unchecked, jealousy can lead to damaging behavior. If you feel like jealousy is causing you to become paranoid in your relationship, acknowledge it now and in the future. Take some time to explore the emotions that led to it.

Start noticing triggers that might bring up your jealousy. Do you feel more jealous when she’s being emotionally distant? If she’s talking to a new person or starting new hobbies do you automatically assume the worst? Some issues may stem from insecurity or past experiences, while others could be a sign that something is off in the relationship. Regardless of the reason, your feelings are not wrong but could be a subtle sign that something deeper is going on- either with you or in the relationship. It might be helpful to sit down and talk about what you’re feeling.

Red flags to tell

Are there red flags and signs of infidelity? The following signs she’s cheating can help you to decide if you have anything to worry about. Maybe there’s truth behind your suspicions or perhaps there is nothing to worry about. If nothing strikes a chord, the problem could lie with you, and it's time to seek help so you can develop some coping skills.

She's suddenly working all the time may be a sign she’s cheating

Unless she has a special project she's working on or received a promotion, if your girlfriend suddenly becomes more dedicated to her job, it may one sign that she's using it as an excuse to be with someone else. That someone else may suddenly be putting in a lot of overtime at work as well.

She's busy all the time: one way to tell

When you first got together, she probably dropped other things to be with you. Now, it seems like the only thing she's dropping is you and her typical day to day life has changed. Maybe she’s not showing as much interest in your life anymore. While it’s possible she could just have a busy schedule or she has a new hobby, however, if you notice other suspicious behavior like she is buying new clothes or she's putting more effort into her appearance, there may be a chance she is cheating. New clothes and a new fitness routine might just mean she is prioritizing herself more, but it’s worth mentioning if you suspect she’s doing it for other reasons. These are multiple signs that she’s changed or potentially that she’s cheating. The girl that always has to be somewhere except with you could be a cheating gf or partner.

She keeps her phone

If her phone indicates that she's receiving a text or call, and she’s keeping her electronic devices very to shield it from you, she may be hiding messages from someone else she’s talking to that she's seeing or hiding her online behaviors and browser history. Send up two red flags if she leaves the room when she gets a call or text.

She brushes you off because a friend needs her

While having your own friends in a relationship is very important. If she’s canceling a date at the last minute or suddenly bolts during a date because a friend needs her, but she won't tell you which friend needs her or why she might be favoring another lover over you. If you know the friend, be on the lookout for subtle signs that the best friend may be covering for her to be with another guy or if she starts spending a lot of time with a particular person. Her best friend might be going through a tough time and need her support, but if her body language is off or she’s overly secretive, something could be up.

She has a whole new set of friends and leaves you out of the loop

If you know her friends and she suddenly has a new group of friends that she's spending time with, but you're never invited to meet them, they could be in the friend group of her new beau or she’s making excuses to spend time with her new partner. Talk to her about this new friend and see if she’s open or secretive when answering questions.

She's stopped saying, "I love you."

If she has said those three words in the past and she's suddenly stopped saying it to you, it could be a red flag that she's distancing herself from you. If you express your love and she avoids saying it back, her feelings may have dwindled.

She's always picking fights with you

Your girlfriend suddenly hates the way you talk, walk, and dress. However, if your partner is picking fights with you constantly, it could be a sign of another issue; she may be feeling unhappy in the relationship or experiencing something difficult in her personal life. Talk to her about what’s going on or seek out the help of a relationship coach to find healthier ways of interacting.

She doesn't make eye contact with you

Eye contact is an intimate gesture that brings people closer together. If she doesn't look you in the eye when you're serious, she may have lost interest in you, or she may be feeling guilty that her heart is somewhere else.

She withholds kissing and affection

If your relationship was filled with lots of hugs and kisses and your partner suddenly behaves hesitant or cold or your sex life has taken a turn for the worse, her feelings may have shifted for some reason. Maybe she used to be more affectionate but no longer is. Paying attention to her body language can help you tell if she is a cheating girlfriend or if she is not in love with you anymore as well.

However, it is important to note that this kind of behavior from a partner could also stem from other issues; have a conversation about your sexual relationship with each other first without jumping to any conclusions.

How to address your girlfriend cheating on you

The red flags listed here should give you a pretty good idea of whether your girlfriend is faithful to you and that you have a committed relationship. If all things point to infidelity, you'll be hurt and lose trust in your partner.

You may go through a period of grief, have mood swings, or have trouble functioning for a while. As soon as you're able, take some steps to yourself and address the situation in the healthiest way possible.

Coping with the signs she might cheat or is unfaithful

You may find yourself asking why this happened; this Healthline article explains some of the reasons and ways to cope with infidelity.

Necessary screenings

If you find that your girlfriend has been sexually active with another partner, the first thing you should do is to see your doctor and ask for a full STD screen to ensure that you haven't contracted any diseases.

Cheating partners often act in the heat of the moment and maybe careless with physical . However, it is not only you that should get tested. If she’s cheating, she is at risk as well. Ask your girlfriend to have a full STD screen and don't have sex unless you're sure she hasn't been exposed to anything harmful or contagious.

Don't attempt to get revenge

You might be tempted to have revenge sex or pay her back by seeking out a relationship of your own. An outside influence or friends might want to talk badly about her or encourage bad behavior. However, such actions will leave you with more problems to fix if you stay together.

Don't use sex to try to fix your relationship with your girlfriend. If she cheated, there's a bigger problem, and you need to address that. Save physical intimacy for the rebuilding phase of the relationship.

It's too soon to tell if the relationship will end, but it doesn't hurt to investigate your legal rights, even if you hope to reconcile. Talk to a lawyer or research what your legal rights are regarding your property, financial assets, and children.

Think before you act

There are a lot of things you shouldn't do if you catch your girlfriend cheating. Don't threaten to end the relationship if it happens again.

Focus on you instead of the signs

'Don't pretend the problem will resolve on its own, and don't take all the blame for the hurt. Don't make any major decisions to break up, divorce, or move out right away. Focus on the things you can do to move forward.

Trust your instincts

First and foremost, trust your instincts. It's important to recognize when you don't feel safe with your partner regardless of whether she’s cheating or not. Get support for yourself in every way you can. Spend time with friends and family or see a relationship coach.

Go to a support group and get therapy for yourself. Start now by reaching out to Regain and asking to be matched with a professional counselor. The counselor will create a safe environment where you can work together or separately on the relationship.

Takeaway

Cheating isn't a sign of a normal, healthy, long-term relationship. If you're experiencing one or a few signs of infidelity listed here, you're probably not paranoid, and something is wrong in your relationship. Talk to your partner and express your concerns.

It's a sign that your girlfriend has lost faith and hope in your relationship. She's looking for a way out, and for whatever reason, she's not quite ready to tell you directly that it's over.

Recognizing the other signs of infidelity gives you the chance to open up communication and either work it out or end it.