When a character suffers emotional pain, the brain’s response is to stop the discomfort, and often this results in a coping mechanism being deployed. Whether it’s an automatic response or a learned go-to strategy, a mechanism helps them cope with the stress of the moment or escape the hurt of it.
But if the character develops an unhealthy reliance on that mechanism, problems will arise. Long-term, certain coping behaviors will impair their connections with others, their ability to achieve goals and dreams, and their resiliency in handling life’s pressures.
At some point, they must have an Aha! moment where they realize their coping method is holding them back and they need to seek other ways to deal with stress. Namely, they’ll have to adopt healthier mechanisms that enable them to manage difficulties and ultimately have a happier future.
To help you write your character’s growth (or regression) journey, we’ve created The Coping Mechanism Thesaurus, which contains a range of coping methods. The one we’re highlighting today can be damaging, and we hope this partial entry will help you show your character’s struggle in a way readers can relate to.
Catastrophizing
Definition
Easily imagining the worst possible outcome; always expecting bad things to happen
What It May Look Like
Being anxious about the future
Making a big deal out of even small things
Getting easily sucked into social media and news reports that highlight what’s wrong in the world
Focusing on what they lack rather than on what they have
Being risk-averse (because they believe things will turn out badly)
Seeing the worst in others and believing humans are inherently bad
Basic Human Needs It Could Compromise
Esteem and Recognition: Someone who only sees doom and destruction may lose credibility with others and be perceived as someone who is unable to view events objectively.
Safety and Security: Chronic stress arising from constant worry and anxiety can erode the character’s physical and mental health.
Fallout (and Possible Turning Points)
An anticipated negative event not happening, causing the character to question their way of viewing the world
Missing a significant opportunity because they were too afraid to take a risk
Losing a valued friend or partner who no longer wants to be around them
Commitment to Change
Seeking to positively reframe their thoughts and expectations
Living in the present instead of looking down the road for possible danger
Realizing that certainty and safety are myths and learning to be okay with that
For help brainstorming your character’s responses to stress, see our master list of healthy and unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Need More Descriptive Help?
While this thesaurus is still being developed and expanded, the rest of our descriptive collection (18 unique thesauri and growing) is accessible through the One Stop for Writers THESAURUS database.
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