We've all been there, someone apologizes, but the hurt still lingers. It's tough to know how to respond when you're not fully ready to forgive. In this post, we'll share some of the best ways to reply to an apology when you’re still feeling hurt. These responses can help you express your feelings without causing more tension.
28 Best Responses to an Apology When You're Still Hurt
- I appreciate your apology, but I’m still processing my feelings.
- Thank you for apologizing, but it will take some time for me to heal.
- I hear you, but I need space to work through this.
- I understand you're sorry, but I'm not ready to forgive yet.
- I appreciate the apology, but I still need time.
- It's hard for me to move past this right now.
- I'm still hurt, but I'm trying to understand your side.
- Your apology means something, but I'm not ready to let go of my feelings yet.
- I hear your apology, but I still need to process everything.
- Thank you for apologizing, but I'm not ready to move forward just yet.
- I know you’re sorry, but it's going to take time to trust again.
- I appreciate you apologizing, but I still feel hurt.
- I can't just forget how I feel right now.
- I'm still feeling hurt, but I'll get there eventually.
- I hear you, but I need time to heal from this.
- I appreciate the apology, but I still need to work through this.
- I know you’re sorry, but I'm still struggling with what happened.
- Your apology helps, but I’m still dealing with the hurt.
- I'm not sure I'm ready to let go of how I feel yet.
- I'm trying to move forward, but I still feel hurt.
- I appreciate you apologizing, but I'm still not okay.
- It's not easy for me to just forgive right away.
- I need time to heal, but I appreciate your apology.
- I'm still hurt, and I can't just switch that off.
- I'm not sure how to move on yet, but thank you for saying sorry.
- I'm working through this, but I appreciate the apology.
- Thank you for apologizing, but it's going to take time for me to fully forgive.
- I hear your apology, but I'm still processing the pain.
1. I appreciate your apology, but I’m still processing my feelings.
This response is a way of showing that you hear the apology, but you’re not ready to forgive right away. When someone apologizes, it doesn’t automatically make the hurt go away. You might need time to understand how you feel about what happened. The word “processing” means you’re thinking about the situation, how it made you feel, and trying to understand everything before you decide how to move forward. It's okay to not be ready to forgive immediately, and this response lets the other person know you are taking your time to figure things out.
2. Thank you for apologizing, but it will take some time for me to heal.
When you’re hurt, it takes time to heal, just like when you get a physical injury. Emotional pain doesn't go away quickly, even after someone says sorry. This response shows that while you appreciate the apology, you need time to recover. It's important to take care of yourself and not rush the process of healing. Everyone heals at their own pace, and sometimes it takes longer than we expect. By saying this, you make it clear that you’re not holding onto anger, but you need time to feel better before moving forward in your relationship.
3. I hear you, but I need space to work through this.
This response means you understand the apology, but you're not ready to deal with the situation right away. You need time and space to think things over. Sometimes when we're hurt, we need time alone to understand how we feel or to calm down before we can talk about it again. This response shows you're not pushing the apology away, but you need time for yourself to work through the hurt. It helps to set boundaries so you can heal properly without feeling rushed or pressured into forgiveness.
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4. I understand you're sorry, but I'm not ready to forgive yet.
Forgiveness is a big step, and it doesn't always happen right after someone apologizes. When someone says they're sorry, it can be helpful, but it doesn't fix everything right away. This response lets the person know that you understand their apology, but you’re not ready to forgive yet. Sometimes, we need time to feel comfortable again or to trust the person who hurt us. It’s important to acknowledge your own feelings and let the other person know that forgiveness is something that can take time and effort to fully happen.
5. I appreciate the apology, but I still need time.
This response is a way to acknowledge the apology while expressing that you're not ready to move on. Even if someone says they're sorry, it can take a while for the feelings of hurt to go away. This phrase lets the person know that while you see their apology and appreciate it, you’re still in the process of figuring out how you feel. It's okay to need time to heal emotionally, and this response sets the expectation that it may take a while before you feel okay about moving on from the situation.
6. It's hard for me to move past this right now.
Sometimes, it can be difficult to forget the pain someone caused, even if they apologize. This response shows that you’re still struggling with the situation and can’t just let go of your hurt feelings yet. When someone says they’re sorry, it's a good first step, but that doesn't mean everything is automatically fixed. You need time to deal with your emotions and come to terms with what happened. It’s okay to express that it's hard for you, and it helps others understand that emotional healing takes time.
7. I'm still hurt, but I'm trying to understand your side.
In this response, you're letting the person know that while you’re still hurting from what happened, you're making an effort to understand their point of view. It's important to acknowledge your own pain, but it's also helpful to try to understand why the situation happened. This response shows that you’re willing to listen and that you’re open to hearing the other person’s perspective. However, it also emphasizes that the hurt is still there, and it might take time for that pain to fade. It's a balanced way to show both your feelings and your willingness to understand.
8. Your apology means something, but I'm not ready to let go of my feelings yet.
When someone apologizes, it shows that they care and regret their actions, but that doesn't mean your emotions instantly disappear. This response shows that you recognize the apology and that it means something to you, but you’re still working through your feelings. It's a way to say that even though the person is sorry, you’re not ready to let go of the hurt just yet. Healing takes time, and it's important to allow yourself the space to feel what you’re feeling without rushing to forgive.
9. I hear your apology, but I still need to process everything.
This response communicates that while you've heard the apology, you’re not ready to accept it right away. “Processing” means you’re still thinking about the situation and figuring out how you feel. Sometimes, when someone apologizes, it can bring up many emotions, and you might need some time to understand those feelings. You're not rejecting the apology, but you're being honest about needing time to figure out how you truly feel about the situation and the apology. This shows emotional honesty and self-care.
10. Thank you for apologizing, but I'm not ready to move forward just yet.
After an apology, it can be hard to move forward because the hurt is still fresh. This response is a way to tell the person that while you appreciate their apology, you’re not ready to continue or move on yet. It lets the other person know that while the apology is helpful, it doesn’t automatically erase the emotional pain you’re experiencing. It's a reminder that emotional healing is a process, and you may need more time to decide how you want to move forward in the relationship.
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11. I know you’re sorry, but it's going to take time to trust again.
Trust is something that takes time to rebuild. When someone hurts you, it can take a while before you feel comfortable trusting them again, even if they apologize. This response acknowledges the apology but emphasizes that regaining trust isn't something that happens overnight. It’s okay to take time to decide if you can trust the person again. This response helps the other person understand that the hurt caused not only affects your feelings but also your ability to trust in the future.
12. I appreciate you apologizing, but I still feel hurt.
This response shows gratitude for the apology but emphasizes that the hurt is still there. Sometimes, just hearing someone say sorry isn't enough to erase the pain you feel. It takes time to heal emotionally, and this response lets the other person know that while their apology is heard, you’re still working through the hurt. It also lets the person know that emotional recovery isn't a quick process and that you may need more time before you're ready to move on.
13. I can't just forget how I feel right now.
When you’re hurt, it's hard to simply forget your emotions. This response is a way to express that even though the person is apologizing, you’re still processing your feelings. Emotional pain doesn't go away easily, and sometimes, you need time to understand how you feel and what steps are best for your healing. It's a reminder that it's okay to hold onto your feelings for a while and not rush through the healing process. This shows that healing is unique for everyone and can't be rushed.
14. I'm still feeling hurt, but I'll get there eventually.
This response communicates that while the hurt is still there, you're hopeful that over time, you will heal. It shows the person that you're not rejecting their apology, but you need more time to process everything. It's a way to acknowledge your feelings of hurt while also showing that you’re willing to eventually move past the situation. Healing doesn't happen right away, but this response shows that you’re not closed off to the possibility of forgiveness in the future.
15. I hear you, but I need time to heal from this.
This response shows that you hear and understand the apology, but you’re still in need of emotional recovery. Healing from emotional pain takes time, and it's important to let the other person know that you’re still in that process. You're not saying no to forgiveness, but you’re explaining that it will take time for the hurt to lessen. It's okay to take the time you need to heal before you’re ready to move forward in the relationship.
16. I appreciate the apology, but I still need to work through this.
This response communicates that while you appreciate the apology, there's still work to be done on your end to process and heal from the hurt. Emotional pain can linger, and you may need to take the time to understand your feelings before moving forward. The person's apology is important, but it doesn't fix everything right away. You may need to reflect on what happened, how you feel, and what you need in order to heal.
17. I know you’re sorry, but I'm still struggling with what happened.
Even after someone apologizes, it can take a while for your emotions to calm down. This response shows that the apology is heard, but you're still working through the emotional effects of what happened. It's normal to struggle with the feelings that come up after someone has hurt you, and this lets the other person know that even though they are sorry, you are still processing everything. You need time to come to terms with the situation and decide how to move forward.
18. Your apology helps, but I’m still dealing with the hurt.
Sometimes, an apology can make you feel better, but it doesn't erase the pain right away. This response shows that while the apology is appreciated and helpful, you're still dealing with the emotional pain caused by the situation. It's a way of saying that the process of healing is ongoing and that the hurt might take some time to fully fade. It acknowledges that emotional pain doesn't disappear immediately, even with a sincere apology.
19. I'm not sure I'm ready to let go of how I feel yet.
When someone hurts you, it's difficult to just let go of your feelings. This response tells the other person that you’re not ready to move on from the hurt yet. Healing is a process that happens at your own pace, and this response gives you permission to not rush that process. Even if the person apologizes, it may still take time for the emotional pain to fade. It's okay to feel unsure and not ready to forgive yet.
20. I'm trying to move forward, but I still feel hurt.
This response shows that you're making an effort to move past the situation, but you're still struggling with the emotions it caused. Sometimes, even when we try to move forward, the hurt doesn't disappear right away. This response acknowledges that healing takes time and that you're doing your best to move on, even though the pain is still there. It helps the other person understand that healing is a process that doesn't happen instantly.
21. I appreciate you apologizing, but I'm still not okay.
Even though someone apologizes, it doesn't mean that everything is fixed. This response communicates that you appreciate their apology, but you're still not feeling okay. It helps the other person understand that your feelings are still valid and that healing takes time. It's a way to express that while you recognize the apology, you’re still emotionally hurt and need more time to process the situation. You're being honest about where you stand.
22. It's not easy for me to just forgive right away.
Forgiveness is often a process that can take time, and this response shows that it’s not easy for you to forgive immediately. Even if someone says sorry, your feelings of hurt are still valid and don’t disappear right away. This lets the person know that emotional healing is complex and not something that can be rushed. You need time to process everything and decide when and if you’re ready to forgive.
23. I need time to heal, but I appreciate your apology.
This response shows that while you need time to heal, you still value the apology. It’s important to take the time you need to process your emotions before forgiving someone. This response acknowledges the apology but makes it clear that emotional healing isn’t instant. You appreciate the person’s regret, but your emotional recovery will take time. Healing is personal and should not be rushed.
24. I'm still hurt, and I can't just switch that off.
Emotions can’t be turned off like a switch. This response tells the other person that even though they apologized, the pain is still there. It shows that healing takes time and isn't automatic. You're acknowledging that the emotional hurt is still real and that you can't just forget about it right away. It helps the person understand that healing takes time, and they shouldn't expect you to forgive or forget immediately.
25. I'm not sure how to move on yet, but thank you for saying sorry.
This response communicates that you’re unsure of how to move past the hurt just yet, but you appreciate the apology. Sometimes, we're not sure what steps to take next after being hurt. This response lets the other person know that you’re still processing the situation and need more time. You're not rejecting the apology, but you're being honest about needing more time to figure out how to move forward.
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26. I'm working through this, but I appreciate the apology.
This response shows that while you're still dealing with the situation, you appreciate the effort the other person has made to apologize. Emotional healing takes time, and you’re still working through it. By acknowledging the apology, you show that you're open to forgiveness eventually, but you’re also being honest about needing time to heal. This approach helps the other person understand that you’re processing everything at your own pace.
27. Thank you for apologizing, but it's going to take time for me to fully forgive.
This response acknowledges the apology but emphasizes that full forgiveness won't happen immediately. Sometimes, even after an apology, it can take a long time before the hurt fades enough to forgive. It's important to be honest with yourself and others about the time you need to heal. This response helps the other person understand that forgiveness is a process and may take longer than expected.
28. I hear your apology, but I'm still processing the pain.
This response shows that you've heard the apology, but you’re still in the process of dealing with your emotional pain. It's a way to express that the apology is heard, but healing takes time. You may need time to fully understand your emotions and to heal from the hurt caused. This response helps the other person know that your pain is still there, and you need time before you’re ready to move forward.
I hope these responses help you express your feelings when you’re hurt and still need time to heal. It's important to remember that healing takes time, and it's okay to need space before forgiving someone. By using these responses, you can communicate clearly that while you hear their apology, you're still working through your emotions. It's completely normal to need time, and setting boundaries is a healthy way to take care of yourself during tough times.
