From Anger to Healing: Addressing the Temptation of Revenge Cheating

My friend Janet never thought she’d be someone who’d even consider cheating. She always saw herself as loyal, grounded, and principled. But when she discovered her partner had betrayed her trust, everything she believed about herself — and about relationships — was thrown into chaos.

Revenge cheating wasn’t just a term for Janet; it was a temptation she wrestled with every day after her world fell apart.

Here’s her story and what she learned about finding a better path.

What Led Janet to That Dark Place

When Janet found out her partner had cheated, her first reaction wasn’t sadness.

It was pure, unfiltered rage. It wasn’t the kind of anger that fades after a good cry — it stayed, simmering.

“I want him to know what this feels like,” she told her best friend, Emily, during one of their late-night phone calls.

Emily sighed, her voice steady. “I get it, Janet. But think about what that would solve.”

Janet knew Emily was right. But knowing something and feeling it are two different things. She couldn’t stop replaying the betrayal in her head.