My wife was developing emotional affairs while our marriage was going to the shyter due to lack of time together cuz of stresses of life, lack of funds to go out, and a lack of family support and my wifes belief that opposite sex friends were okN that she could keep it platonic but eventually she ended up talking feelings and these other men validated her while I was at work and she was preggo and home being a housemom (she now works full time as a dental assistant). So I too had an emotional affair out of spite and she hated it. Big mistake on both our parts as it drove us even farther apart. Very trying times... The problem with emotional affairs is that once you get one of your top needs met outside of your marriage others are soon to follow. Very slippery slope. Thankfully neither one of us went physical in the affair department and we turned our marriage around.
Epi
Edit: This all started when child #1 was about 7 and child #2 was recently born.