WIBU to text apologies now?

You talk about being bad at replying to messages, do you mean you have completely ghosted people, or just been slow to reply to the point the friendship has faded?

I would be concerned that if these people don’t reply, or block you, or do reply but say something a bit hurtful or dismissive, your mental health might take another knock. I also think this is more about you than them- they will have moved on, and most people don’t want/need this kind of closure on an old friendship that faded.

If I were you I think I’d focus on forging new friendships and chalk ones in the past up to experience to learn from. And do be aware that the instinct to push people away, even when you rationally can see you’re doing it and know it doesn’t serve you, can be a hard one to shake, so take it slowly and don’t over promise on the kind of friendship you can offer initially. Good luck OP!

If I hadn’t heard from you in months or even years, an apology probably wouldn’t matter to me either way, tbh. I’d have just assumed you had issues or stuff going on and mentally crossed you out of my life. But, I have a lot of friends and really good self esteem, and so it wouldn’t have occurred to me for a second that your lack of contact was a reflection on me or something I’d done.

You say you’re not expecting anything back, but is that actually the case? Is there a part of you that wants to apologise because you’d like the opportunity to rebuild the friendships? If so, then you’ve nothing to lose by explaining that your mental health was previously poor and that you’ve been working through things and are in a much better place now. Don’t be too obsequious or grovelling in your apology though: for some people this will be a red flag in itself that you’re still in a bad place and possibly just going to drop them again as a result, which they’ll want to avoid.

I think it might seem like an excuse to them rather than a reason, if that makes sense.
I think even though you say you wouldn’t want anything in return, it might be interpreted like you do by the recipients.

If it’s been months/years their lives will have moved on. I would concentrate on the future and future relationships/friendships, rather than looking back to the past.

I'd be worried to receive a message like that. I'd presume you were going to kill yourself and wanted to right the wrongs you did first.

How long ago did you ghost them?
Will it feel like rejection if they don’t reply or tell you to fuck off?
You could be blocked and they’d never know or care why.
As a person with low self esteem, that could be damaging to you.

I would have moved on and not be interested in reigniting a friendship because I’d always be wary. I’m sorry if that’s not what you want to hear.

I would send a message but not go into huge detail or overwrought apologies, just keep it light and breezy. Eg "Sorry I've not been in touch, it's been a bit of a tough few months/years" and then go on to ask how they are etc. Worth a try!

I think a healthier thing to do would be to put your energies into making new lasting friendships. No good can come out of sending those texts. You might not expect anything in return but the people you're sending them to don't know that. I wouldn't want to receive one and would find it unsettling.

No harm trying - but I'd be honest in apologising for not contacting the last time