It's a shame that this is even a topic that exists, but it is. Cheating is, unfortunately, a normal thing that occurs fairly often in the dating world. If it hasn't happened to you, consider yourself lucky. It certainly sucks. It makes you question everything, including yourself. "Is something wrong with me?" "Am I not good enough?" "Where did I go wrong?" The psychological trauma that a person endures after being cheated on is one of the most emotionally damaging things that a person can go through. So, it's even harder to date again after it's happened to you. If you decide to date someone who has been cheated on, there are a few things that you need to remember.
They are going to ask questions.
When you go out with friends, they are probably going to ask you hundreds of questions. "Who is going to be there?" "Who is that?" "When will you be back?" "What are you going to be doing?" Please don't get mad. Don't take it as them not trusting you. Answer their questions because they need that reassurance. This doesn't mean that they don't trust you, this means that they have been hurt before and that these are the things that they need to know in order to keep from overthinking and reverting back into their depressing state. Answer their questions and don't take it personally.
They are going to be jealous.
Again, I can't emphasize enough that this doesn't mean that they don't trust you. Every time when someone hits on you, they are going to be jealous. That is a 100 percent guarantee. Don't hit them with that, "You should trust me," or, "It was harmless flirting," bull crap. Chances are good that they do trust you, but, once upon a time, that harmless flirting resulted in a broken heart. They are going to be jealous not because of you, but because they have been conditioned to see every other person as a threat. Don't get angry or take it personally, just remind them that you love them and give them the comfort that they need.
They probably have low self-esteem.
When people get cheated on, their whole outlook changes. They see themselves as a second choice, something to throw away or toss aside. What self-esteem they had has been virtually ripped to shreds. By the time when you met them, I'm sure that they used all of the tape and glue in the world to attempt to put themselves back together, but it'll never be the same. What used to be just a pimple is now an excuse for you to leave them and start over with someone else. They probably won't believe you when you tell them that they're perfect or beautiful. Don't get frustrated when they reply with, "No, I'm not." Chances are good that they either don't believe it or they just want to hear it again.
They are afraid.
It's extremely hard to learn to love again or to let yourself be loved again after being betrayed in that way. So, when someone finally moves on, that's a huge step for them. They are going to be afraid. Hold their hand. They are going to be ashamed. Show them off. They are going to be jealous. Reassure them. They are going to need you more than anyone else. So, let them.
