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I'm dating someone who has cheated in the past. What should I do?

306 Answers
Last Updated: 05/15/2022 at 5:43pm
I'm dating someone who has cheated in the past. What should I do?
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
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D'Anna Davis, LMSW

Clinical Social Work/Therapist

The journey to where we are today included many ups, downs, twists and turns. Healing from the events of life is crucial in achieving mental health and happiness.

Top Rated Answers
AmarahSofia
September 13th, 2020 4:44am
Cheating may bring loads of issues and even be emotionally, mentally challenging for someone who had been cheated. We should take time in knowing the person first before dating them. Everyone deserves a second chance. Do not let people’s past to define who they are today. Best thing to do is, give yourself a chance to know them without being biased about their past. Know them better first and see how things will work. We may feel unsecured about them being faithful and loyal becuase they cheated some time in ther lives but we cannot just live and depend on our ‘‘What if’s’’. Give the personthe chance to prove himself and his intentions. Not everyone stays the same forever. Besides, everyone learns from their mistakes.
Fradiga
September 13th, 2020 10:43pm
This is a tricky, but really good questions. I assume you are talking about having sexual relations with someone else as the occasions arise. Normally, people who have cheated with previous partners do not disclose it to a new date, but in this case, this person has. What you would want to know is why and how it happened so you can discern if it is close to a normal behaviour on the part of your new date or if it came with extraordinary circumstances. In my experience (and I am 68 by now), people who have cheated in the past tend to do it again, while others NEVER cheat no matter what.
Anonymous
September 16th, 2020 4:38am
Everyone makes mistakes but someone makes those, again and again, it depends on how you feel he treats you as an individual. Does he hide a lot of things from you? Is he ever open about things he does or what he feels? Dp you feel you can trust him no matter what situation it is?If he cheated in the past, has he told you why and under what circumstances? was he forced or did he do it knowingly, hurting the other persons feelings? Theses are several possible questions you can ask yourself and it is always best to talk it out if you have theses concerns with him.
phoenixl
September 17th, 2020 1:53pm
I am not sure why you feel you should do anything? If you've made a decision to date someone who has cheated in the past, you made a decision to be with that person. If you are going to continually question whether or not your partner is cheating or will cheat - you will never have a meaningful relationship - as relationships are built on trust (among other things). I think what you need to ask yourself is can I trust this person? Do I feel they are going to cheat - if you do, you might want to reconsider the relationship before it goes to far.
justadude2talkto
September 20th, 2020 5:24am
listen to what is in your heart and even more importantly, what's been missing....you are the captain of your ship and the only one who can ever tell you what to do. when you have any issues at all, emotionally or physically, spiritually or otherwise......pick one. Work on the biggest one first. Then move down to the next one. Soon, all of these issue will combine into one. You will see how they are interconnected. At that point, you have a much better chance of understanding, seeing, feeling the whole picture. Which is really all we are all here for.
Anonymous
September 25th, 2020 5:14pm
I can not speak for anyone and their experience. However remember that is okay, to feel how you feel and to expresses these feelings to the person you are with! Maybe you could try and have an open discussion with the person you are with. To discuss what happened in the past and to have an open mind when moving forward. Also try not to hold what happened in their past against them, just have these conversation as something to help your future. Sometimes when these thoughts creep in, remain calm and just try and breathe! Remember your both human and make mistake but to move forward together!!
Anonymous
October 16th, 2020 8:17am
being in a relationship requires trust. Trust is a key component. If you cannot trust your S/O, then how will your relationship work out? You must communicate and ask for reassurance. Try and be open, talk to them about it. Ask them to explain what happened, why it happened, how it made them feel. Myself personally, I have been cheated on and cheated on a S/O. It is not something I’m proud of. But I can proudly say my experiences have given me lots of perspective on relationships. I have been in a relationship with my boyfriend for almost 2 years now. We are as healthy as can be. He knows I have cheated in the past and he accepts that, because he trusts me. We communicate and I make sure to reassure him and make him feel safe. In any relationship, there is always a possibility the S/O might not be faithful, and going into a relationship you have to be prepared to be hurt. It isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. There’s always ups and downs. To be in a relationship, is to risk being hurt in order to be loved. In my opinion, I think worrying over whether a person will be faithful or not is a waste of time. You cannot prevent a person from their own personal choices and urges. It is out of your control. Trust, honesty, communication, that’s what makes a good relationship. If you’re busy overthinking and worrying, and not talking to them about it, it will just take you away from the reason you’re with them in the first place. it will cause a drift. Talk to them. Tell them about how you’re feeling.
Anonymous
November 26th, 2020 5:55am
I would break up with him/her so you won't get hurt in the relationship. Because a relationship is about trusting your partner not stabbing them in the back. And you didn't really want the person and non did you love that person. And if you loved them u wouldn't be cheating on them but some times it's good to let someone go when they cheat because you don't want them to come back and they start telling you that they love you they don't so don't let then back into your life so they can mess it up again. So be yourself and don't let anyone control you.
Anonymous
November 29th, 2020 11:14am
A lot if people go through it. I personally feel that the person who cheated on you should be ashamed, emphatically speaking, I understand. You should try to move on from that person and their mistakes and not keep the person in your life because the person will betray your trust again and again. You should not let such toxic people in your life because that might affect your mood the vibes in your life too. Make the right choice for your future self and you will always be happy with the outcome. Don't feel too negative and be hopeful.
Anonymous
December 5th, 2020 11:07pm
I would seek a therapist or counselling. It would be hard to build trust and build that foundation again. Only you is the expert in your life and feelings. Everything will depend if you are willing to forgive give a second chance or move on. Sometimes, feelings and emotions can be deceiving, we must assess our mental health and always do and decide whatever's beneficial for our own health. If you decide to forgive and give that person a second chance, it's important that the person is willing to change and values the relationship. It's always easier to escape but if you are both willing to work on it then it's still possible to heal and reconcile. But if you feel like the damage has caused you a lot then it's time to move on.
Anonymous
December 12th, 2020 6:09am
everything is a lesson learned, & the lesson you’ve learned should always help you with your second choice. you may need to allow yourself time before you truly make a permanent decision! if the cheating happened before you were involved; i would build your own trust of that person and go from there. whatever you decide make sure that it is truly YOUR CHOICE. no one can determine your path, take your time in finding what you truly want in a relationship. if you feel the trust is 100% there then by all means you should go for what you want.
Anonymous
December 23rd, 2020 4:47am
Ask yourself, can a zebra change it's stripes? No. So to answer the question, if they have a history of cheating, they can more than likely cheat than not. That isn't to say they definitely will. I hope that makes sense without sounding contradicting. A relationship works if both individuals are communicating to the other effectively and trying to make things work. Being with someone regardless of who they are shouldn't be challenging, although for some it can be. Depends on their personalities too and what their goal is with you. Is the relationship worth it? Consider what would you do if that person cheats and how well can you handle such situations. Sounds like an over-thinking type of answer, but its realistically life. Good luck !
Anonymous
December 27th, 2020 11:10pm
I can see that it makes you feel uneasy that your partner has cheated in the past. No one is perfect, and we all inevitably make mistakes as we go through life. What is important is that we learn from our mistakes and grow from them. Did this person explain why they cheated? What did he learn from that situation and how has it changed him? Do you think you would be able to trust him, despite his past? It is important that we are able to trust our partner in a relationship. WIthout it, the relationship may deteriorate and become toxic.
sallysalad1233
December 30th, 2020 12:40am
It must feel very anxious to date someone who has cheated on you. I suggest you to really look out for the person in terms of actions,words and etc. If you feel any suspicion, talk to the other person about it. Trust is the most important thing to have in a relationship. Although it may not be easy, gain their trust. However, if you feel that there is something they did wrong to you or have any suspicion, it is okay to let them know and end the relationship. It is not worth it to be someone who will cheat on you or have chances of them cheating on you if they show constant signs of it. However, if it is evident that they have learned from their mistake in the past, stay with them. Everyone makes mistakes and they could have made a mistake. If you have any additional questions, feel free to leave them here for the community
Anonymous
December 30th, 2020 4:30pm
I would try and have an honest conversation with them and discuss how their cheating on you would make you feel. You have to build up trust and honesty with this person to help ensure that they are trustworthy and will not complete the same mistake that they did in the past. Try and keep the relationship open and honest. This way, you both can be honest if either one of you does make a mistake and can tell each other. Keep each other accountable for mistakes and clearly state what behavior is not tolerated by you, such as cheating.
Anonymous
January 8th, 2021 1:07pm
One important aspect of dating is trust. It can be very hard to trust someone who is known to have cheated in the past. If you're not sure about your situation, it is always advisable to tell your partner how you feel about their actions in the past. A good partner will be able to understand your fears and accept their mistakes. How they react to you expressing your fears tells a lot about who they are as a person and whether or not things will work between you two. They must be capable of understanding that the accusations are caused by their actions in the past and accept them while proving their intentions.
Anonymous
January 17th, 2021 5:57am
Ensure that you can trust them now. Although it may seem scary dating a cheater, there is a huge possibility that they have grown and learned from their mistakes. While they may say that they can be trusted, make sure that they reveal trust through their actions. Also, you can see if they have grown through their perspective of their experience. For instance, if they aren't proud of what they have done, most likely they have taken that situation as a learning experience and won't want to do that to anyone again. I hope this helps and I wish you the best of luck with your relationship.
Anonymous
January 17th, 2021 9:31pm
At 7 cups, listeners are not allowed to give advice but there are many ways to do in this tough situation. First of all, I'm very sorry that you are in this mess. It must be tough and super frustrating. I think you should assesses your situation and work from there. Should you cut him/her off totally? Should you talk to him/her and see what happened regarding the cheating? How did you find out about this and do you think this is a common thing that occurs? There are many routes and thoughts to consider so think about it :)
Anonymous
January 24th, 2021 3:21pm
A person should always get the benefit of doubt. First of all try to sit and discuss with the person what were the conditions and why (s)he had to take such a step. Communication clears out half of the things. Then try to put yourselves into that person's shoes and be empathetic. If the reason is genuine and seems like something you can accept, say so and also make him / her understand why cheating shouldn't have been the option and how they could've tried somehting else. If you are unsatisified by their answer, try to judge if they understand their mistake and has their attitude changed, if not try to explain things to them. Even after all of these, they seem to have the same attitude, it'd be better to maintain your distance.
WiseWhale
February 18th, 2021 4:33pm
You should be true to your own relationships standards. If you feel good about his past, keep going, if you feel like you'd rather date someone who didn't cheat in the past, then break up with this person. At the end, everything is up to your own boundaries. You could also ask your partner about this infidelity to provide you with better understanding. Remember you can never predict other's behavior but you can always choose what standards are a must for you to comitt to a relationship. We have all made mistakes in the past and the most important thing is to learn about then.
Anonymous
March 4th, 2021 7:23pm
Part of the question is -- has that person cheated on you personally. Or has that person just had infidelity issues before. Have you talked to your partner about your concerns of this happening and becoming a problem? To communicate with your partner about these concerns is vital to figuring out how to best continue your relationship without that being a heavy concern on your mind all the time. If your partner had an isolated incident, versus multiple-- those are factors to consider and discuss. At the end of the day, it's about knowing the two of you can trust the other and that boundaries are respected.
willow5963
May 14th, 2021 6:00am
You should assess your options. You know yourself best, and what you need from a relationship. I can't entirely tell what the situation is, but from what you've said, it sounds like they confided in you that they have cheated before. That can take a lot of courage to reveal to a current loved one. But then again, it completely depends on how you found out about these circumstances. You should think about whether you're happy in your relationship despite what you've learned. Even then, you need to think about what you want in a relationship, and have a good conversation with this person about the future of your relationship with them.
snugglyDog7961
May 15th, 2021 12:00pm
First of all, someone who cheated in the past may not do so now. Maybe they learnt from their mistake, maybe they weren't happy in their previous relationship( I know even then, cheating is not an answer) or maybe their were circumstances that you don't know about. If you trust that person and they do too, you shouldn't worry yourself with such thoughts. If your relationship is just in the beginning phase, try to analyze their behavior(this doesn't mean spying) and look for red flags, if any. Even still if you aren't convinced about this, try talking about this to your partner, but don't make them play the villain, try to make it subtle and ask what made them do what they did previously and also tell about how much this has been bothering you, if they fail to tell or are uncomfortable- that is a red flag!
Thebrowngucci
June 10th, 2021 1:59pm
Cheating is not a mistake it is a choice. I consider cheating as the most disrespectful thing a person can do in a relationship. If a person doesn’t respect you they don’t love you. Try to cut the cod. I know it’s hard then it’s said. But you are closing the doors for the person who will actually love and respect you. If it was a mistake you would have forgiven him but this was his choice to cheat on you, this will keep on repeating in you mind. Also, you won’t be able to be happy at all. Remember to take care of yourself as you can’t pour from an empty cup.
angelofcompassion
June 11th, 2021 7:16pm
Communication is the single most important thing. Express your thoughts and feelings and allow them to do the same. Make sure this takes place in a safe space - ask them "are you free to talk right now or can we schedule this in soon?" They may feel like their past is haunting them and you may feel scared they could repeat their actions but by being open and honest with each other - you are both on the same side and you both know what the other expects as a partner. This also ensures that you are both having needs and expectations met which can prevent feelings of tension and resentment. Open up - allow space - trust in them
Anonymous
June 27th, 2021 11:16am
It is all about trust. If you think that person is going to do that do you then maybe you should leave them and if think that you can believe them then there would have been no question I think. So just talk to them and ask them that if they would ever cheat on you and then you will know what to do. If you genuinely like them then you will be able to overcome it. But if you think that this doesn't help feel free to talk to someone here and any of us would be happy to help you.
NinaBee
July 15th, 2021 7:42pm
Make it *extremely* clear what your boundaries are, what you consider as cheating, what they consider as cheating, and make it very clear that if they do cheat on you, you're leaving without a second thought. If they value you and the relationship the two of you have built together, they will put in the effort and dedication into the relationship and, ideally, not cheat. People don't often ruin the things they worked hard on. You're dating this person for a reason. Remind yourself and your partner what that reason is, and make sure there's mutual trust by regularly checking in and being consistent in communication.
dancingKitty5841
July 29th, 2021 3:21pm
A person that cheats in the past can lose much trust from a partner. If you want to forgive them or if they did the cheating in a past relationship it is important to take to that person about how you feel. The worries and concerns you have when thoughts of the infidelity arise. If you are feeling that you want to trust them but have doubts, you should reflect on how willing are you to let do of the negative thought process. Reframing thoughts may help. When you refram thoughts you take the negative ones that come to mind and you change them to a positive.
Anonymous
September 1st, 2021 4:02pm
Did you find out about that by surprise or did he actually tell you that ? if it's the latter , i think you can forgive him because maybe he has changed. and people do change. However, You have to decide tho are you okay with or will you always keep doubting him, because no relationship can be sustained with trust issues. You could voice your concern about this for him. Don't overthink about it. If he fails to make you feel safe, then you should just leave him and find someone else. it's as easy as that.
AMomentInTime1830
September 2nd, 2021 10:53am
This is up to you. What are you comfortable with and are you able to trust your partner? Infidelity is damaging to a person in so many ways, leaving you with feelings of insecurity, mistrust, sadness and anger. These can fester and emotionally crumble a person if they are not addressed and properly dealt with. Talk to your partner. What are their wants and needs in the relationship and tell them yours. If after discussing these points you want to proceed with the relationship, then you’ve made the decision to trust. Be fair to your partner and allow them to be true and honest with you, avoiding constant wonder and accusations. Seek professional help if you find this difficult to manage on your own, to learn coping strategies on how to get past the issue. Working with your partner toward the same goal is important and trust has to be there for that to be successful in making a future together.