When most people say āIām sorryā, theyāre usually apologising for one or more specific things that they did or didnāt do. However, whenĀ someone with depression says āIām sorryā, then while they may of course be similarly apologising for a specific action or inaction, they may also be saying āIām sorryā for a variety of other reasons that arenāt immediately obvious.
Consequently, a little while ago, we at The Depression Project recently asked our 3,000,000+ person social media community:
What are you often thinking / apologising for when you say "I'm sorry"?
And below, weād like to share some of the responses with you.
Quotes About What People With Depression Are OftenĀ Thinking / Apologising For When They Say "I'm Sorry"
- āIām unworthy of this relationship, and Iām waiting for you to confirm that.ā
- "Iām sorry for being ātoo muchā when it comes to my emotions, my depression, etcetera.ā
- āIām sorry for being ānot enoughā ā i.e. not good enough for you.ā
- āIām sorry that I canāt show you my joyful, chirpy, helpful side today.ā
- āIām sorry that I canāt show up more, be more present in our relationship, and help you too.ā
- āIām sorry for being a buzz kill. Iām sorry for disappearing to recharge. Iām sorry for having you wonder if Iām really OK.ā
- āIām aware of the burden I place on others, and I am so sorry.ā
- āPlease donāt leave me because of my depression.ā
- āI feel guilty for everything Iām putting you through because of my depression.ā
- āIām sorry for being so needy.ā
- āI apologise for my presence.ā
- āI hate myself for what I did. Iām so sorry.ā
- āPlease donāt leave me. I donāt mean to be this way.ā
- āIām scared Iām losing you.ā
- āI feel I am inconveniencing you, and I hate that.ā
- āPlease donāt hate me.ā
ļ»æWhat To Do If You Know Someone With Depression Who Tells You "I'm Sorry"
As you can see, ifĀ a loved one with depression tells you that theyāre āsorryā, then itās possible that while they may be apologising for something specific that they did or didnāt do, they may also be having a crippling moment of self-doubt, shame, insecurity and/or self-hatred. Consequently, we really encourage you to keep this in mind, and try your best to reassure your loved one and to make them feel safe.
All our love,
The Depression Project Team.