Dear Jennine,
I am at a crossroads in my relationship and I don’t know what to do. A few weeks ago I was at my boyfriend’s house and got on his computer to check my email. When the browser popped up, I noticed that he had been browsing the San Diego Craigslist page… for casual encounters.
I got really mad and accused him of cheating on me. He says that he only browsed the ads and never followed through with contacting anyone, so he didn’t technically cheat. We have been having problems lately, but I never thought he would consider hooking up with someone else. I don’t know how to trust him again, or if I should.
Sincerely,
Confused
Dear Confused,
Even though your boyfriend says he didn’t actually have sex with or meet someone else on Craigslist, it is totally normal that you feel confused and betrayed. Instead of turning to you to deal with the issues in your relationship, he turned to an outside source in San Diego Craigslist.
As for whether or not you can trust him again, know that it will take time to rebuild trust if you decide to stay in the relationship. When your boyfriend violated the boundaries you thought were clear in your relationship, your secure attachment suffered a wound. It sounds like there were already other relationship issues before this happened, which can make things even more confusing.
The first thing I would recommend is sitting down and making a commitment to each other to work on the relationship. You can’t move forward and repair things unless both people are really on board. If he doesn’t feel genuine remorse for his behavior or care that he hurt you, it may be better to move on.
If you both express an honest commitment to improve the relationship and your boyfriend shows a genuine understanding of why you’re hurt, have honest communication about what changes you need to see in the relationship. Let him do the same. Even though you’re upset with him, let him be open and honest about what led him to consider stepping outside of the relationship. If you both decide you are willing to work on the changes the other person has requested, make a game plan for specific actions you can both take to hold up your end of the bargain. Let your boyfriend know that it is essential for him to follow through on his promises so you can slowly rebuild your trust in him.
Sitting with a counselor may be the best way to rebuild your secure attachment. A therapist provides an impartial mediator to hear both sides of the story and give suggestions about how you can start to rebuild the trust in your relationship. Good luck to you during this time.
How to Stop Sites Like Craigslist from Causing a Break-Up
A lot of the couples I see in my office are having issues because of the internet. Or, maybe I should say the internet is bringing to light issues that exist in the relationship. Facebook, Twitter, San Diego Craigslist — these are just some of the sites that get mentioned in my office. My advice is always to set boundaries and stick to them when it comes to online activity.
Using Social Media
It’s important to set rules for your relationship when it comes to social media. You don’t want craigslist causing a breakup. How much will you talk about your relationship on sites like Facebook? What types of pictures will you post? Are you still friends with an ex on social media? Figure out a set of boundaries and stick to them. If you are private messaging an ex-boyfriend or liking every status he posts, your current love may decide not to stick around.
Browsing Ads
It probably goes without saying, but browsing online dating sites or personal ads is a major relationship deal breaker. Sometimes I have clients who share that a spouse has been on San Diego Craigslist or similar sites looking at ads for casual hookups. Just avoid these sites at all costs. If you are turning to an outside source for something that is lacking in your relationship, it is time to either talk to your partner about your discontent or move on from the relationship.
Watching Adult Videos
Adult websites and even adult videos on sites like YouTube are another touchy subject in relationships. When in doubt, set boundaries for what you’re both comfortable with, and don’t deviate. When a man is caught viewing adult content online, his partner can feel betrayed and as if she is not enough for him. You don’t want craigslist causing a breakup, nor do you want any video feeds doing the same. Be proactive in your relationship.
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