In a city like New York, where everyone is jostling for space, attention, and Cronuts, "sorry" has become a catchall term that can mean anything from "Get out of my way!" to "Yup, I grabbed the last Alexander Wang for H&M dress a second before you." But useful as it may seem, an overactive sorry reflex carries a ton of downsides. "When you're constantly apologizing, it can make you appear incompetent to outsiders," warns Melody Wilding, LMSW, a Manhattan-based therapist. "But it can also shatter your self-image. Instead of focusing on what your needs are, you're focused on the needs and perceptions of others."