In this episode of Ask The Betrayed, Sharon and Rae explore one of the most misunderstood aspects of betrayal trauma recovery: Emotional exhaustion after infidelity and during betrayal recovery; what the betrayed can do about it and how the unfaithful can support them.

After D-Day, many betrayed partners feel an instinctive pull to withdraw, create boundaries, or even consider therapeutic separation. This is not about punishment of the unfaithful. It's not about giving up. And it's not about "never getting over it."

It's about trauma recovery.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why the need for space is a natural trauma response
• The nervous system's need for distance after betrayal
• Sharon's "Wiggly Man" metaphor and validation-seeking dynamics
• How unfaithful partners can honor space without resentment
• Creating space vs. impulsive distancing and withdrawal
• Why being able to take space is a sign of healing — not rejection of your partner

If you are the betrayed partner and feel exhausted, overwhelmed, or pulled between your needs and your partner's emotions — this conversation is for you.

If you are the unfaithful partner and feel anxious when your spouse asks for distance — this episode will help you understand why honoring that request is essential for rebuilding trust and helping them heal.

Recovery from betrayal trauma is not linear. The need for space ebbs and flows. And learning to navigate that well can transform your healing process.

If this episode resonated, please like, subscribe, and share — it helps others find support and hope after betrayal.

💬 Please comment below!

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Join Sharon and Rae every two weeks for grounded, empathetic conversations about healing after betrayal, rebuilding your identity, strengthening your voice, and reclaiming your life.

Please share this video with someone who needs encouragement in their healing journey.

📬 If you have questions you'd like us to answer in an episode, or would like to inquire about coaching with Rae or therapy help, including intensives, with Sharon and James, please reach out to us at: AskTheBetrayed@gmail.com

🎧 You can also find us on Apple, Spotify, and everywhere podcasts are found.

🔗 Need help healing? Find James & Sharon at the CORE Relationship Recovery website: www.HopeForUs.com (Email: Info@HopeForUs.com ) or find Rae at www.HealingTalksBack.com (Email: Rae@HealingTalksBack.com )

Our Website: https://www.AskTheBetrayed.com

Follow CORE Relationship Recovery (James & Sharon) on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CORERelationshipRecovery

In this episode of Ask The Betrayed, Sharon and Rae explore why betrayed partners so often internalize blame after infidelity — quietly keeping you stuck in pain, powerlessness, and re-traumatization.

This conversation is about restoring choice, agency, and dignity in the middle of relational trauma.

You'll learn how taking responsibility for what isn't yours can:
• drain your emotional energy
• fuel shame and self-doubt
• blur boundaries
• keep you locked in chaos instead of clarity

Through real stories, clinical insight, and compassionate truth-telling, Sharon and Rae show how this tool helps betrayed partners separate what belongs to the unfaithful from what belongs to them, reclaim personal power, and make grounded, self-protective choices.

In this episode, we cover:
✅ What "Quit Taking It Personally" actually means in betrayal recovery
✅ Why betrayal makes everything feel personal — even when it isn't
✅ Common blame-shifting messages betrayed partners internalize
✅ How taking things personally gives away your power
✅ The connection between Q-TIP, boundaries, and self-care
✅ Why blaming yourself can feel empowering — but isn't
✅ How to pause, reality-check, and choose clarity over chaos
✅ A simple daily practice to interrupt trauma-driven thinking

This episode is especially helpful for:
• betrayed partners in early recovery
• those stuck in self-blame or over-responsibility
• anyone working to rebuild confidence and agency after betrayal
• therapists and coaches supporting betrayal trauma healing

If this episode resonated, please like, subscribe, and share — it helps others find support and hope after betrayal.

💬 Please comment below!

🔔 Please Subscribe (and Like) for More
Join Sharon and Rae every two weeks for grounded, empathetic conversations about healing after betrayal, rebuilding your identity, strengthening your voice, and reclaiming your life.

Please share this video with someone who needs encouragement in their healing journey.

📬 If you have questions you'd like us to answer in an episode, or would like to inquire about coaching with Rae or therapy help, including intensives, with Sharon and James, please reach out to us at: AskTheBetrayed@gmail.com

🎧 You can also find us on Apple, Spotify, and everywhere podcasts are found.

🔗 Need help healing? Find James & Sharon at the CORE Relationship Recovery website: www.HopeForUs.com (Email: Info@HopeForUs.com ) or find Rae at www.HealingTalksBack.com (Email: Rae@HealingTalksBack.com )

Our Website: https://www.AskTheBetrayed.com

Follow CORE Relationship Recovery (James & Sharon) on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CORERelationshipRecovery

Gaslighting after betrayal can make you question your memory, your emotions, and your reality — and that confusion is not weakness. It's a trauma response.

In this episode of Ask The Betrayed, Rae sits down with gaslighting specialist and CORE Relationship Recovery team member Sarah Morales (SarahMoralesCoaching.com) to break down what gaslighting actually is, why it's so damaging after infidelity, and how betrayed partners can reclaim clarity and self-trust.

Sarah shares her framework for identifying gaslighting behaviors without getting trapped in the endless question: "Did they mean to?" You'll learn why gaslighting doesn't always come from narcissism, how shame can drive gaslighting patterns, and the difference between gaslighting vs. a gaslighting attempt — a powerful shift that restores agency and reduces self-doubt.

We also discuss:
✅ The most common question betrayed partners ask: "Was that gaslighting?"
✅ Sarah's core definition that helps you answer that question
✅ Why gaslighting produces deep self-doubt and loss of self-trust
✅ What is Self-gaslighting?
✅ The red flags of internalized manipulation
✅ Unfaithful partners: discerning between intention vs impact — and how gaslighting blocks repair
✅ Practical hope: how healing reduces gaslighting behaviors over time

If you've ever thought, "Maybe I am too much" or "Maybe I'm crazy," - you're not - and this episode is for you.

✨Where to find Sarah and take her courses:
Listen to her podcast: Deconstructing Gaslighting (2 seasons / 50+ episodes)
For Courses, visit: https://www.sarahmoralescoaching.com/ → Deconstructing Gaslighting Academy TM (https://www.sarahmoralescoaching.com/...)

Please note: "Deconstructing Gaslighting" is a Trademark (TM) of Sarah Morales and may not be used without express permission

💬 How have you been gaslighted? Please leave a comment below - we'd love to hear from you

🔔 Please Like and Subscribe for More
Join Sharon and Rae every two weeks for grounded, empathetic conversations about healing after betrayal, rebuilding your identity, strengthening your voice, and reclaiming your life.

Please share this episode with someone rebuilding clarity after betrayal trauma.

📬 If you have questions you'd like us to answer in an episode, or would like to inquire about coaching with Rae or therapy help, including intensives, with Sharon and James, please reach out to us at: AskTheBetrayed@gmail.com

🎧 You can also find us on Apple, Spotify, and everywhere podcasts are found.

🔗 Need help healing? Find James & Sharon at the CORE Relationship Recovery website: www.HopeForUs.com (Email: Info@HopeForUs.com ) or find Rae at www.HealingTalksBack.com (Email: Rae@HealingTalksBack.com )

Our Website: https://www.AskTheBetrayed.com

Follow CORE Relationship Recovery (James & Sharon) on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CORERelationshipRecovery