5 Tips for Dating Someone Who's Been Cheated On

Let them set the pace. People who have been heartbroken don’t trust easily, so you’ll have to wait until they start to really trust you and find themselves ready to take your relationship to the next level. Of course, it’s not your fault that some cheater broke their heart, but if you are really serious about this relationship, you need to give them some time.

Be ready to deal with their insecurities and jealousy. People who have gone through a relationship with an unfaithful partner can have self-esteem issues and/or find it hard to deal with jealousy and paranoia. It might be hard to convince them that yes, you really want to date them. Remember that actions speak louder than worlds. Instead of trying to convince them that you won’t cheat like their ex did, simply don’t give them any reason to doubt you.

Don’t try to help them get over their relationship issues. Although you should be ready for their insecurities, you shouldn’t try to help them get over their relationship issues. You’re not their therapist and there is nothing you can do to make them let go of their issues. But what can you do? First, let them know that you’re serious about this relationship and you’re ready to wait. Second, don’t take anything they say about relationships personally, it’ll make things easier for you.

Don’t brush off their questions. If they ask you “Who are you texting?” or “How was your night out with friends?”, you’d better give them a normal answer instead of just saying “No one” or “It was fine”. We aren’t saying that you have to give a detailed report. Just be honest and don’t try to dodge their questions. You don’t have anything to hide, do you?

But don’t tolerate excessively jealous behavior either. While it us understandable that a person who’s been betrayed can have trust issues, it is not okay to overstep personal boundaries and try to intrude in every aspect of your partner’s life. It’s not your responsibility to take the other person’s emotional baggage as your own. So if they insist that you tell them all your passwords or keep them updated on your whereabouts when you’re not together, don’t be afraid to let them know that they’re overstepping.

If you’re not ready to date someone with trust issues, that’s okay. Just don’t lead them on and break things off early so that they don’t have time to get attached.