Q: “Dear Dr. Coop, Is Sexting Cheating?

From: Shannon P., Portland Oregon

Answer: Dear Shannon,

Yes, sexting is cheating. It’s a  milder form of an emotional affair plain and simple.  Anytime you’re withholding “secret and sexually charged” information from a partner this is likely a gateway to more significant problems. When romantic energy is being exchanged outside the relationship, this is a symptom of  bigger issues in your relationship.  You might be thinking  “hey,  chillax…it’s just fun!”  Simply because you don’t “touch” someone doesn’t mean there isn’t betrayal. Ask yourself this question, “How would my partner feel if they read these sexts?” or, “How would I feel if I discovered them sexting?”  If the answer is anything other than “ok”, then it’s time to dig deeper and address with your partner “what’s missing.”  Someone once said to me that “thinking, leads to talking leads to doing.”
When things are stable and fulfilling at home, eyes and hearts tend not to wonder or wander.