Perhaps the rebellious 'buzz' a WW feels is a big part of the story? It could explain why, when the WW is being wayward - she is happy (that might be because she is being 'wayward with an OM or just being wayward' - Sandi's point). In between when she crashes is it because the 'high' is not there and only being wayward ('rebel character traits') provides this drug?
This made me think of an article I read a long time ago about fear/adrenaline and attractiveness. Basically they had subjects rate the attractiveness of people under normal conditions, and then also rated the attractiveness of people after they passed each other mid-way on a suspended rope bridge. The people they passed on the rope bridge were rated significantly higher in attractiveness, apparently because your brain has trouble differentiating between the thrill/high from attractiveness vs fear/danger.
I think that ties in to how people point out that a big part of the thrill from affairs and affair partners is the secretive nature of it and the fear of getting caught/consequences.
Take away the fear-inducing environment and things get a lot more mundane.
Me, WW - Upper 30s BD - Apr 1 2016 EA - Apr 7 2016 (discovered; ongoing for months; did not confront right away) Confronted wife about EA - May 17 Wife sent NC email to OM - July 11
