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Is your partner micro-cheating on you? Relationship expert reveals the signs you NEED to watch out for

We reveal what micro-cheating is and the signs to look out for

ARE you cheating on your partner without even realising it?

Micro-cheating is a new word that has found it's way into the relationship world and it might be for you.

 How much do you know about micro-cheating
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How much do you know about micro-cheatingCredit: Dmitri Maruta / Alamy Stock Photo

what micro-cheating is and how to spot one.

Melanie Schilling said micro-cheating is a series of actions that indicate a person is emotionally or physically focused on someone outside of their relationship.

She added: "'You might be engaging in micro-cheating if you secretly connect with another person on social media, if you share private jokes, if you downplay the seriousness of your relationship to your partner or if you enter their name under a code in your phone".

Keeping secrets and subtle betrayals are also acts of micro-cheating.

 People may be micro-cheating without realising it
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People may be micro-cheating without realising itCredit: moodboard / Alamy Stock Photo

Infidelity doesn't have to be as simple as sleeping with someone else.

Melanie recommends being on guard if "your partner is having private conversations or online chats that he/she quickly shuts down when you enter the room".

If your partner tries to make you jealous, this should also ring alarm bells.

 Your partner hiding his phone from you may be reason to be suspicious
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Your partner hiding his phone from you may be reason to be suspiciousCredit: ableimages / Alamy Stock Photo

A way to decide if your partner is micro-cheating is thinking about you'd feel if things were the other way round.

But, any kind of micro-cheating with an ex is never acceptable.

Confronting your partner about any worries is an important step.

 Talking about your issues can help the situation
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Talking about your issues can help the situationCredit: Alamy

However for relationships but the it all comes down to the intentions of the act.

Melanie suggests online suspicions should be handled by saying: "When you add all the heart emojis in her/his post comments it makes me feel like she/he is your partner, rather than me.

"Next time, it would be great if you could reserve the online love for me".

Micro-cheating signs to look out for

  • Flirting with members of the opposite sex
  • Giving you reason to be jealous
  • Jokingly implying you can't trust them
  • Hooking up with friends of the opposite sex
  • Still chatting to exes
  • Excuses that don't add up
  • Treating other people the same as you
  • Texting members of the opposite sex more than you
  • Replying quicker to members of the opposite sex
  • Keeping your relationship a secret

Last time we met three people in a 'bromance' v romance and asked how it threatened their relationship.

We also met the unhappy couples staying in relationship because of pets.

Cousins who are in a relationship clash over cheating rumours on the Jeremy Kyle Show