Are you always apologizing non-stop? Do you feel sorry for everything that doesn’t go right?
There are times when saying sorry is required and there are times when it makes absolute sense. You arrived late at the office. You yelled at someone. You bumped into someone. You said something hurtful. You missed your friend’s wedding.
But a lot of us tend to over-apologize unnecessarily.
How to know if I am over-apologizing?
Start noticing if you tend to apologize for needing space or wanting help. If you apologize for tiny things throughout the day regularly. If you apologize for crying or saying no. If you ever apologize for apologizing. If you maybe even apologize for existing.
It’s important to understand where this impulse to over-apologize comes from.
Over-apologizing can also be a symptom of codependency, low self-esteem, and a tendency to avoid conflict even if it costs us repressing our true feelings and thoughts. It might have been rooted in a childhood trauma when, for example, avoiding the family fight in the case of domestic violence or an alcoholic parent was the only way to bring back the feeling of safety. Over-apologizing for the sake of not making someone upset in this case became a learned survival mechanism from childhood that doesn't serve in adulthood anymore.
Over-apologizing can also be a sign of poor boundaries and enmeshment when we accept the blame for things we didn't do or take responsibility for solving other people's problems, excusing their behaviours as if it's our own. We're so afraid of abandonment and criticism that we'd go out of our way to focus on accommodating their needs and sacrificing our own.
When over-apologizing becomes a symptom of some underlying issue and does more harm than good, we can intentionally unlearn this habit & eventually get rid of it.
Over-apologizing dilutes our apologies when they're needed. Over-apologizing can make us look less confident. It can seem as though we're sorry for everything - for our actions and feelings, for taking up space, for our mere existence.
Understanding over-apologizing is important
There are so many different roots that over-apologizing can stem from. Let’s delve into some common reasons that might be the root behind your over apologizing.
Over-apologizing might originate from feeling inadequate and unworthy
Experiencing a difficult and traumatic childhood might lead you to believe you are the root cause of all the terrible things happening around you. Due to low self-esteem, you always think you are in the wrong or causing problems and asking for too much. You might end up believing you are unworthy of love or feel like a damaged person which ends up with you feeling not good enough about yourself.
Those who over-apologize often feel like a burden to others, as if their wants and needs are not important.
You are having a hard time, going through something difficult recently and your partner has been supportive throughout your struggle. They listen to you and support you when possible. Instead of feeling grateful and letting them know you appreciate their love and support, you apologize for making them go through the trouble and feel sorry for being needy. In short, you feel sorry for having any needs at all.
Over-apologizing also can stem from the self-worth that’s shackled to shame.
Shame says I am a bad person. Shame “pushes us to hide, our needs.” Because we believe at our core their badness. Sometimes, guilt can conceal shame, she said: “I did something bad because I am bad.” Because you feel like a bad person, or because you didn’t do something “perfectly” to cope with excessive feelings of guilt and to seek reassurance, you might end up over-apologizing even without doing anything of actual harm. You can recognize there’s shame at the core if you feel guilty and over-apologize even after you have sincerely apologized earlier and adjusted your behaviours.
You might over-apologize because you want to be seen as a “good person,”
Like many people, you might have been always praised and rewarded for putting others first. You learned that it’s best to sacrifice yourself for others or to think less of yourself because being humble is being good. You might also be likely to be a people pleaser, being afraid of letting others down, so you want to be considered as nice always and don’t want to upset people.
You want to avoid conflict at all costs.
You fear “where that conflict can lead. Fears often have an understandable history behind them, and they make perfect sense if we understand the context.” For example, you apologize to your friends even before the conflict arises because you are worried they will get mad. Maybe you do this because you grew up in a household where conflict sparked harsh comments, yelling, breaking objects, isolation, or cold treatment which for a kid may lead to feelings of abandonment. In other words, instead of seeing conflict as an opportunity to understand each other’s perspective, work through the issue, and become closer, you see it as “being hurt, shamed, or emotionally abandoned.”
The need for perfectionism can also lead to over-apologizing.
We have such high standards for ourselves that we constantly feel inadequate and feel a need to apologize for every tiny thing that we do imperfectly.
Sometimes, we over-use, “I am sorry” because we’re afraid to own up to messing up.
This sort of apologizing usually says “I am sorry so don’t be mad at me”. This doesn’t come out of fear or a feeling of unworthiness, it’s more of a reflection of “I keep apologizing to feel good about myself”. For example, you apologize to your partner for missing dinner with their friends and family for the 5th time in 3 months. Instead of understanding your partner’s priorities and taking time out for them, you feel your apology should be enough. You can get mad at your partner when they say something like, “I am tired of hearing your apologies and I would instead really appreciate a change in your actions now.” In short, you may be using sorry as an escape.
Remember you don’t need to apologize for:
• Things you didn't do
• Things you can't control
• Things other adults do
• Asking a question or needing something
• Your appearance
• Your feelings
• Not having all the answers
• Not responding immediately
We should apologize when we've done something wrong - hurt someone's feelings, said or done something offensive, been disrespectful, or violated someone’s boundaries.
How to stop over apologizing?
Notice when, why, and with whom you're over-apologizing.
The first good step is to notice that you are apologizing without any reason. Pay attention to your thoughts and feelings - they can be cues that you're feeling anxious, afraid or inadequate. You may also re-read written communication to find some of your unneeded apologies. Write down all the situations to get a good understanding of them
The question of whether an apology is necessary.
Did you do something wrong? How bad was it? Are you taking responsibility for someone else's mistake? Or are you feeling bad (or anxious or ashamed) when you didn't do anything wrong?
Replace "I'm sorry" with alternative phrases.
Write down what you usually say and try to find other phrases that do not include apologies.
Give yourself some time
Remember that it has become a habit already and you have been unconsciously doing it for a long time. You won't change your habit in one day and that is ok. Taking small steps is progress too!
Seek therapy
Working with a therapist can be invaluable in helping you gain a deeper understanding of why you over-apologize and do something about it.
Alternative phrases to over-apologizing
SAY THANK YOU
There are many times where a simple "Thank you" can replace "Sorry". When you feel the urge to apologize, flip the script - what is the other person giving you that you might express gratitude for?
When you are about to say:
"Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner."
Say this instead:
“Thank you for your patience."
When you are about to say:
"Sorry for making you upset."
Say this instead:
“Thanks for taking some time to chat with me about this."
ASK A QUESTION
If you often find yourself apologizing when you feel that you are bothering people or when you need someone's time, try replacing sorry with a question instead.
When you are about to say:
"Sorry to bother you."
Say this instead:
“Do you have a moment?"
When you are about to say:
"Sorry to ask, but...”
Say this instead:
“Is now a good time for a quick question?"
INVITE FEEDBACK
Instead of saying sorry when you missed something, or when something didn't go as planned, demonstrate self-awareness, take responsibility, and focus on the solution.
When you are about to say:
"Sorry, I messed this up."
Say this instead:
"Can you give me feedback on how I can do this differently?"
When you are about to say:
"Sorry, I don't know how I missed that.
Say this instead:
"I appreciate you pointing that out. What else did you notice?"
OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE
When you're apologizing because you're worried about disappointing someone, try offering an alternative instead.
When you are about to say:
"Sorry, I can't make this meeting.”
Say this instead:
"I'm unable to attend this meeting. Let's try to find a slot tomorrow."
When you are about to say:
"Sorry, I don't want to have that for dinner"
Say this instead:
"Why don't we try having something new. I have been wanting to try …”
OWN YOUR IDEAS
If you tend to over-apologize for your thoughts and ideas, remember that you have a unique perspective and something to add to the conversation.
When you are about to say:
"Sorry if this doesn't make sense..”
Say this instead:
”Here are my initial thoughts.”
When you are about to say:
"Sorry, I'm not so sure if I agree."
Say this instead:
“I have a different perspective on this that I’d like to share."
Remember
It's okay for you to have needs. It's okay for you to have preferences. It's okay for you to want something different or have a special request. It's okay for you to take up space. It's okay for you to exist.
For many of us, over-apologizing is a bad habit. And like any habit, it takes effort and practice to undo a bad habit and replace it with new behaviours. So, don't be discouraged if you find that over-apologizing is a hard habit to break.