Throughout the world, divorce rates are rising at an alarming rate despite an abundance of resources which might otherwise slow the epidemic. Marriage counseling and individual counseling are no longer considered taboo and yet they do not seem to be having the beneficial impact one might expect. Infidelity is a major cause for divorce and separations and can often cause years of heartbreak and grief.

The marriage relationship is usually the first casualty found in the wake of an extramarital affair. The faithful spouse may never be able to trust another person like they did before the infidelity. Even if the marriage survives, the bond between the two may never be the same. The faithful spouse may develop low self esteem or even paranoia about the other person's faithfulness if the infidelity is not addressed properly.

If the couple has children, the impact of infidelity can be devastating. Even children who are too young to comprehend the gravity of the situation are acutely aware of the emotional pain within their home. They may start to wonder if their behavior caused the sadness they are observing in their parents. They may become very confused and frustrated, adding to the trauma already cascading through their formerly safe and peaceful home.

Depending upon the age and maturity of the children, you should divulge as much information as is prudent so that the children do not feel as though they are at fault for any tension. A simple statement such as, "We are disagreeing about something, and it's OK to disagree sometimes," may be all that is needed to calm any fears.

Children who do not receive proper intervention throughout the infidelity ordeal may take their anger and frustration to school. Their behavior may change dramatically and their grades may suffer. A careful and constant attention to their questions and frustrations throughout the ordeal may preempt many of these problems.

Children who grow up in a home damaged by infidelity may eventually exhibit deviant behavior, spreading the destruction caused by infidelity out of the home and into society. The emotionaly damaged children may eventually abuse drugs, become sexually promiscuous, or may turn to other criminal behavior. Fear and disappointment may snowball into seriously damaging behavior, creating an individual who is a burden to society.

Even unsuspecting taxpayers are affected by the high divorce and separation rates. Taxpayer funded courts are filled with divorced couples who must depend on the legal system to decide how to divide assets and dictate custody terms for minor children.

Divorce recovery and affair recovery centers can offer the resources needed to recover from the infidelity. They can provide counseling services for every member of the family and address the unique needs of everyone involved. The resources they provide can help the healing process and can provide the tools needed to keep the infidelity from happening again.