Let us be honest; payback leaves a sweet taste in the mouth.
The thrill that comes from knowing you’re making someone experience exactly what they made you go through is second to none.
And sometimes, you don’t even have to be vengeful to think about payback or desire it.
When someone does something significantly painful to you, you may find yourself wanting to get your pound of flesh.
Not many things hurt a person’s feelings, like being cheated on by their partner.
If you’re in this position and considering payback, i.e., you’re wondering how to punish him emotionally like he’s been doing to you, I’ve got you.
How To Punish A Cheating Boyfriend Emotionally – Your Perfect Guide
1. Face the reality
This is step one, Sis.
Before aligning the weapons in our arsenals for this question, I need you to do this first.
Come to terms with the reality of what you’re facing.
Own your situation and give yourself time to feel the emotions you’ve been pushing away.
We need to do this and get it out of the way because when we get to other steps, I’ll need you to have been over this.
So, give yourself space to understand what’s happening and process your emotions well.
You may be feeling angry, betrayed, sad, and so on.
Don’t deny or reject those feelings.
2. Understand that there are no guarantees
This may not have been what you expected to see next but trust me, it is crucial.
I’m a great captain, and if you trust me and follow me through the points I’m listing, we will sail smoothly and arrive at our destination, getting back at your boyfriend emotionally.
However, as we move on, you must understand this quest has no guarantees.
Heck! There are no guarantees anywhere in life.
You just have to try and hope things align as they should.
What I’m saying, in essence, is that you may do everything, employing all the tricks in the books, and your cheating boyfriend still does not feel a thing.
This is because people are different, and sometimes people are unpredictable.
Having this at the back of your mind is important so that if it doesn’t go your way, you are still okay and don’t end up being the one being punished emotionally.
3. Send him a text
Using the soft emotional card is one action that works many times.
He’s your boyfriend because you once shared sweet emotions, and I’m sure he still has a soft spot for you.
Send him a text message expressing your hurt and disappointment at his actions.
This is an effective way to get him to feel bad because he’s likely to feel guilty and sad after reading your text.
4. Stop showing your pain
Now, we’re getting into the meat of the matter.
This is where you begin to activate your inner badass, especially if the text message doesn’t work.
That badass is the state of mind you need to be in to achieve your goal.
The pain you feel will still be there, but you just won’t show it.
If he’s used to you crying and feeling sad about his actions, it’s time to switch up.
Don’t fold or bend even when faced with his nasty behavior.
5. Stop showing that you care
You need to make him see that you genuinely don’t care about his actions anymore.
You and I know you might still care a bit, but we’re not showing that.
Withdraw from every act that you used to engage in that showed that you cared and turn on your hard girl mode.
Establish boundaries emotionally to help you stay firm.
If you come across a sneaky text or catch him in a compromising phone call or position, don’t give him the reaction he’s used to.
Keep an emotionless face, and make sure you’re not showing your feelings.
Make it obvious that you saw what happened, but don’t show how you feel.
The first thing this will do is confuse him before it begins to get to him.
6. Take obvious detachment steps
This is the major step in this entire article.
Taking simple steps that indicate detachment is an easy but powerful way to tug at your boyfriend’s emotions.
You know your boyfriend better than I do, so you know what will get at him best, but I can suggest a few things for you.
Ignore his calls and texts, restrict his access to you, block him on social media, refuse to meet up with him, give him back his stuff and separate your stuff from his, refuse his gifts, delete his number from your phone, the list is endless.
None of these should be done in a healthy relationship, but this relationship is not healthy.
So you can engage in any of these steps to show your boyfriend that his betrayal is unacceptable and has changed things between the two of you.
These steps send a clear message that will also make your boyfriend feel emotionally bruised.
7. Hang out with a male friend he’d hate for you to be with
The jealousy card is one that we can almost always bank on.
But this time, you’ll be doing it with a twist, more strategically and intentionally.
Find a guy your boyfriend feels threatened by or someone he’s expressed insecurities about, and make him your friend.
He could be your friend, your boyfriend’s friend, or a mutual friend.
As long as he’s someone your boyfriend would hate for you to date, he’s perfect for this step.
Hang out with him, take pictures, and even attend events with him.
Attend social events where you’ll likely meet your boyfriend and ensure he sees you both.
Don’t try too hard or make it evident that you’re trying to make him jealous, though, because that can be cringe-worthy.
Do it subtly but intentionally.
Please note that this part can go south if care is not taken.
You are still healing from the betrayal of your boyfriend, so be careful not to fall right into the arms of this other guy.
Also, consider that you are using this guy; how does he feel about it?
Does he have vested emotions?
Take this step with extreme care!
Nigerians will say, “Shine ya eye” (meaning be watchful and tread carefully).
8. Project a better version of yourself
Now, you’re far from his reach; not only will he feel hurt, but he’ll also feel curious about what you’re up to.
Feed his curiosity in a way that hurts him.
Show up as a higher version of yourself by appearing bold, beautiful, and content.
This is not the time to show that you’re hurting or miserable.
It’s the time to show that you’re doing good and make him regret cheating.
9. Get support
As you’re putting up a bold font before your boyfriend, you need a safe place to be yourself and be vulnerable.
Reach out to your close friends and family or anyone who can provide you with emotional support and positive energy.
If you feel deeply hurt, you might need to reach out to a therapist for support and guidance to help you navigate your emotions.
It’s important to note that if this revenge process gets to you negatively, you can stop at any point and just focus on yourself, healing and moving on.
Put yourself in situations that make you happy and bring out your best.
This will help counteract negative emotions.
10. Get busy and focus on you
Next, you need to promote your mental and physical well-being by engaging in exercises, fun groups, meditation, spiritual activities, or anything you enjoy.
Focus on self-care and personal growth, and engage in your hobbies.
Prioritizing yourself is always a great idea, and it’s not just in an attempt to get back at your boyfriend.
It will contribute to your revenge process, but it’ll even help you heal and get better.
So it’s a win-win situation for you.
11. Break up with him
Ending the relationship passes a strong message across, the strongest of all.
It is a clear attestation to the fact that you won’t tolerate infidelity, and you deserve better.
This is a crucial step in punishing your boyfriend emotionally, as it is bound to leave him surprised and hurt.
You’re very likely to get a nice feeling of satisfaction from revenge, and it may even teach your boyfriend a lesson or two about how to act right.
However, revenge alone will not provide you with long-term closure or happiness.
This is why, even in your quest for revenge, you must prioritize your welfare and healing.
This is a healthier and more fulfilling path.
Always remember that if the pain is overwhelming, you should seek professional help from a therapist, as this can be beneficial in navigating through the emotional aftermath of infidelity.