7. Long-term lack of openness and communication between married partners

Another reason why some affairs last for years is the lack of communication in the marriage. At the end of the day, with most affairs that go on for years, the biggest problem preventing the cheating partner from opening up and being honest with their spouse is that they feel that they can’t.

As marriages mature and get older, you can feel more like you became a wife or husband with a spouse than someone who married the love of their life.

This occurs when partners refuse to openly and honestly communicate. Without communication, it gives off the feeling that nothing will change and that you’re stuck. You may think, “How can it change if your spouse isn’t willing to hear your feedback and your thoughts?”

However, your partner hasn’t done anything bad to you, and you don’t want to go through the mayhem of splitting your lives and getting a divorce.

At this point, for many, it can seem like the only option to give a boost to their life is by finding another person who doesn’t carry all the baggage that you and your spouse share. And that’s how some affairs last for years.