Emotional affairs can be different for everyone, but they typically follow seven stages of progression. An emotional affair usually starts out as a simple friendship, but this can quickly snowball into an unhealthy dynamic. Someone feels initially drawn to a “friend,” devotes more time to them, and eventually becomes more dependent on them. Not addressing these stages early on can result in infidelity and severe relational repercussions. Article: The 7 Stages of Emotional Affairs & How to Recove