Therapist says 'serial cheaters' follow the same cycle which couples need to watch out for

A therapist has explained the cycle 'serial cheaters' get into which you need to be on the lookout for.

Cheating in a relationship is about as considerate as taking a putrid s**t on the kitchen worktop and leaving it for your partner to clear up, they'll be understandably furious at you and wonder if they ever really knew you at all.

In many cases it's the end of the relationship and even if it isn't it breaks something which can never really be repaired.

One woman has claimed she's identified the key traits which cheaters share, claiming that two big signs a guy was DTC (down to cheat) were him following a load of girls he didn't know on social media, and following every girl he's ever met.

While these are both Instagram-related, she also said that away from the internet cheaters were very good at making flirting seem like being charming, so if you caught them trying it on with someone else they could try to pass it off as friendly instead of flirty.

With that in mind, therapist Trey Tucker took to TikTok (try saying that without getting your tongue twisted) to explain what's going on in the minds of the serial cheaters and why they never stop.

He said: "Serial cheaters are in it for the thrill of the chase. They think they're chasing sex but they're really chasing significance.

"They don't know who they are or don't like who they are and when they get that acceptance they temporarily feel like the person they want to be.

"But then it wears off quickly and they start to feel like crap again and the cycle starts all over.

"They keep on trying to feel significant while leaving more and more damage in their path."

So that's the cycle, it's all about 'chasing significance' and before long they'll be looking for their validation with someone else.

Meanwhile, you might want to be on the lookout for signs of cheating as there's some common red flags to be on the lookout for.

If your partner has suddenly become more secretive and guarded when you're around as well as had some peculiar changes to their daily routine then you might need to start worrying.

Them becoming incredibly defensive over little things is another red flag, as is accusing you of cheating on them in a grand act of projection.

One would hope things weren't as bad as you feared, but sometimes the signs really are there.