u/Icy-Programmer-4622

Does anyone have any experience rebuilding trust? I hit rock bottom and I'm trying to climb my way back out. My former partner is still talking to me though I don't know why, I don't deserve any of it after my lying and cheating. But for the first time in as long as I can remember I am being 100% truly honest. I have nothing left to hide and I want to go forward with radical honesty. I really love this girl and I know Irrevocably fucked up that relationship. I do not expect her to ever take me back, but she is such an amazing person and I still want her in my life. I am making changes, being honest, going to therapy, and I feel like I am genuinely on the right path for once. How can I rebuild trust after destroying it so thoroughly? Is that even possible?

I have been cheating on my partner for 7 years with multiple people. I have justified it, rationalized it, tried to be better. But I always backslide, I always fall back into the same coping strategy I've known for years which is to seek validation from others. That has most often come in the form of sex. Sex has been the strongest hit of that validation I have found so far and I just couldn't stop. I've lied for years and 2 days ago, all my lies have been exposed. All of them. I hate myself for it and I've hated myself for a long time. I've hurt so many people more deeply than I could ever imagine. How can I call myself a good person when I've done something so terrible to people I love?

Please help me. I know I don't deserve it, but I want to be better. I want to fix this broken thing in my heart so I can be a better man but I don't know where to start.