Although many people argue that you really shouldn't come involved with a married man, if you find yourself deep in the throes of an affair with someone who is already taken, it may be difficult to know when to get out. The most telling signs that it may be time to end your affair with a married man is likely your own emotions. If you find that the affair is consuming much of your time and energy, either to conceal it or to stay involved in it, you should ask yourself if the man is really worth it. If your personal life is suffering outside of the affair, in terms of friendships, your family, your job, or your mental health, ending the affair with the married man should be the obvious, though painful, choice.

Often these types of affairs become so difficult to manage, either because of the secrecy and stigma surrounding them, or because of your own emotional involvement, that it becomes hard to judge for yourself when is the right time to form an exit strategy. If this is the case, it may benefit you to confide in a nonjudgmental friend and ask his or her advice on when to end the relationship. After all, a close friend may be able to see more clearly the effect the affair is having on you and can therefore give more straightforward, accurate information on when to break up with a married man.

The most important thing is your own happiness and self-worth. If it becomes evident that the married man you became involved with is not helping either of these factors, you should come to recognize that the situation is not the best for you or for him.