The process of affair recovery can be an emotional roller coaster including feelings of betrayal, confusion, guilt, shame, anger, grief and sadness. It is possible that both partners desire to repair the relationship. Here are some steps to take.

I still misgender myself all the time. It’s frustrating but also demonstrates that the closer you are and longer you’ve known someone as a certain gender or name, the tougher it is to adapt (and it is going to take a lot of practice).

Our finances can be something that sets off a variety of emotions, but one that might surprise you is that of depression. When you are struggling financially it can become a piece of your identity. And then you add on the fact that we don’t normally go around telling people that we’re struggling financially, and you have a setting for allowing sadness, stress and anxiety about your finances to lead you into depression.

As a first responder, you are taught to control your emotions while facing difficult situations. You are also taught to be strong, to diffuse high conflict circumstances all while being stoic. And then at the end of shift, you are expected to go home and be a loving father, mother, partner, friend and live life as if nothing happened during your shift. Over time this can affect your mental well-being causing anxiety to show up in your daily life.