Coping mechanisms

Mental Health/Depression/Loneliness

I’m sure this has probably been asked a million times on this sub; what type of coping mechanisms have you all found that can a very introverted person with severe social anxiety?

My wife and I have been married for almost 21 years and 5 days ago she informed that she had cheated on me about 3-4 years ago. She admitted to sleeping with 3 other men, 2 of them 1 time each and the 3rd, twice. She insists it has not continued but I don’t believe her based on the pattern of behavior over the time between then and now but she won’t admit to anything else.

When we got together, I told her on numerous occasions that I could forgive almost anything except infidelity. As a child of divorce myself, I know what it’s like to have to go through that and now our 4 children must experience the same thing. Due to my past, I found it hard to let people in because I didn’t want to lose them the way I lost my dad when he left. This is what has caused my social anxiety to grow for 30+ years. Now that I’m in this situation, I have no one to turn to; no friends, no social network, etc. I also realize that it hasn’t even been a week and emotions are still raw but I do not want to spiral into depression or anything like that, as I am already taking SSRIs and mood stabilizers. I want to have ways that I can keep myself centered so that I can help my children through this process and leave them behind because of my feelings.

Posted Jul 30, 2026, 2:10 PM UTC

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