Some wouldn't call it actual cheating, but emotional affairs can still do damage.
"Emotional affairs stay on the purely mental side of the cheating scale, with little physical interaction taking place," says dating coach Chantal Heide.
"Usually this is because the person conducting the affair still maintains hope that their relationship will work out, even if they’re allowing themselves to be emotionally carried away for the moment."
Heide says people resort to emotional cheating because they often don't feel like they're getting positive attention at home. The nature of this type of affair, she adds, is similar to courtship — including flirting and frequent communication.
"Emotional and physical affairs are conducted in much the same way," she says. "Clandestine meetings, secret texts, and frequent thoughts and changes in behaviour are all present. Both share equal amounts of mental foreplay, the only difference being the lack of physical sex.
And if you do suspect your partner is emotionally cheating on you, Heide also gives us tips on how to confront them in the video above.
Here are 10 signs you should look for if you think your significant other is emotionally cheating on you.
