7 signs to look out for if you think your partner is cheating

Today is dubbed ‘Unfaithful Friday’, as it’s reportedly the most popular day of the year for affairs to take place.

It is believed that cheating wives or husbands see the 17 November as a final chance to go behind their partner’s back before the Christmas celebrations kick in with family and friends.

But it isn’t merely today which is most common for affairs to take place but the entire week. According to dating site, Illicit Encounters, last year the entire week saw a 30 percent rise in cheating allegations.

The number of photos uploaded and messages sent during this period of time are also significantly higher than any other week in November or December.

And a survey conducted by the dating site only further demonstrated this, as 79 percent of 500 adulterers admitted to having an affair on ‘Unfaithful Friday’. Approximately 20 percent even planned a weekend away with their secret lover with Paris being the number one destination.

“From Christmas shopping to nativity plays to seeing the in-laws, Christmas is undoubtedly the biggest stumbling block for anyone seeing their mistress or histress,” the site’s spokesperson Christian Grant explained. “That choke point leads to the inevitable – a premature year-ending romp to see out 2017 in style, albeit prematurely.”

He continued: “So, if your partner is being coy about their plans this weekend, then it might be best to apply a bit of pressure to the wound and see what they’re really up to.”

But pinpointing any potential clues that your partner may be cheating can prove tricky.

Thankfully, relationship expert and psychologist Sam Owen is on hand to give us the lowdown on the seven signs to look out for if you think your partner is having an affair:

They becomes defensive

“They become confrontational or overly defensive when you ask them questions about things that are linked to your suspicions rather than trying to understand your concerns and reassure you.”

Their stories become inconsistent

“There seem to be too many inconsistencies in their stories about where they’ve been, what time and/or who with.”

They become distant

“They’ve become distant and somewhat cold with you, even if they tell you everything is fine but you don’t believe they’re telling the truth.”

They become secretive

“They’re being secretive with their phone or laptop when you enter the room or draw physically closer to them.”

Their routine changes

“Suddenly their day-to-day behaviours or routine is different and you can’t understand why. For example, they are out of the house much more than before and their explanations don’t really justify all the recent absences.”

They stop sharing personal information with you

“They are unwilling to share passwords to things like their mobile phone, when they have no real reason for declining to.”

Their social media habits change

“Their social media activity seems to have suddenly changed from its usual pattern without other justifications for it. For example, they are a lot more active or they are ‘Liking’ things that are romantic in nature when they don’t usually.”

Relationship expert and psychologist Sam Owen’s book ‘Resilient Me: How to Worry Less and Achieve More’ is on sale now.

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