By Katie Bailey, MA, LPC
Do you say “I’m sorry” constantly? Are you apologizing things for things that aren’t your responsibility? At the root of over apologizing is a false belief that your thoughts, opinions, feelings, really your existence, do not matter. People that over apologize tend to:
1. Avoid conflict. Most people who say I’m sorry all the time would rather keep the peace, even if it means taking ownership of a wrong that isn’t theirs to take.
2. Struggle with anxiety. Maybe you are in an emotionally and/or physically abusive relationship. Maybe you apologize all the time to avoid further abuse from your partner and the anxiety of that makes you apologize constantly.
3. Not trust themselves. If you believe you have lousy judgment you aren’t going to be confident in your choices, and so always apologize.
If any of these resonate with you, you should consider seeking help. You can learn to take responsibility for yourself and let go of the rest. You can learn to see yourself as God sees you, loved and precious. You can learn to live out of that truth and experience freedom from always saying “I’m sorry”. Consider the support you could gain through anxiety counseling. Please let me help you find that inner strength and believe you do matter.