For example, say something like “I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed right now, so I need a little bit of time by myself to cool off, but we can talk about this when I come back. "
Passive aggression can come in many forms, like sarcasm, such as “I’m sorry I’m such an awful girlfriend,” or trying to shift the blame, such as “I’m sorry your feelings got hurt. "
If he says now isn’t a good time, don’t press the issue, just wait for a better opportunity. If the reason it isn’t a good time is because he’s still really angry about the issue, let him know briefly that you understand why he’s angry and you are there to talk about it when ever he’s ready and wants to.
For example, if you’re apologizing for yelling at your boyfriend for something you knew wasn’t his fault, you might say, “I’m sorry I lashed out at you last night over something you had no responsibility for. I understand how this made you feel like I didn’t care about your feelings and was just using you to selfishly take out my anger. "
For example, instead of saying, “I’m sorry I acted the way I did. I was just really frustrated with things at work and I had a headache that was making me cranky,” you should just say, “I’m sorry I acted the way I did. I had no right to be like that to you. " If he wants to know why you acted the way you did, he can ask you. Then, you can explain your behavior. Insincere apologies often express a regret for being caught, rather than actual remorse. [8] X Research source
Another way to suggest reparations is to ask “What can I do to make this better?” Then let him know you’ll take his comments to heart. [11] X Research source
