Like we at The Depression Project have talked about on social media before, there are many reasons why someone with depression and/or anxiety may constantly apologise (even when they've done nothing wrong). And, in this short little blog post, we'd like to share some of these reasons with you.
Reasons Why Someone With Depression And/Or Anxiety May Constantly Apologise (Even When They've Done Nothing Wrong)
- They may feel like they're bringing the mood down;
- They may feel like they're constantly in the way;
- They may feel like a burden, and that they're not good enough for the people around them;
- They may constantly worry that they've done something wrong;
- They may have been mentally abused, and have consequently become conditioned to believe that they're always in the wrong;
- They may want to avoid confrontation at all costs, because in the past, confrontations may have escalated extremely quickly;
- They may have a fear of abandonment.
If you can relate, then please know that you are not alone, and that constantly apologising (even when you've done nothing wrong), is a natural response to the experiences that we've just described.
On the other hand, if you know someone who constantly apologises (even when they haven't done anything wrong), then:
- Please try not to get frustrated with them, and angrily tell them to just stop apologising - since this can make them feel even worse, and intensify all of the underlying reasons why they may feel compelled to apologise in the first place.
- Instead, please do your best to understand the reasons why they feel the urge to apologise so much, and gently try to put them at ease.
All our love,
The Depression Project Team.