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 ability to handle life’s pressures.
At some point, they must have an Aha! moment where they realize their coping method is holding them back and 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 mechanisms. The one we’re highlighting today can help your character better manage painful emotions and stress. Use this partial entry to show readers the character is choosing more productive strategies that will build resilience.
Seeking Therapy
Definition
Engaging a licensed mental health professional to help process emotions and heal from trauma or emotional wounds
What It May Look Like
Researching therapists to find the right fit (checking specialties, reading reviews, verifying insurance, etc.)
Talking through childhood memories with a therapist
Being honest with their therapist about difficult topics
Practicing cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to challenge negative thought patterns
Processing trauma through Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) sessions
Internal Struggles
Fearing what they’ll uncover and the emotional work required to face it
Being frustrated when progress feels slow or sessions unproductive
Feeling guilty about the time or cost they’re pouring into therapy
Feeling defensive and resistant to the therapist’s observations
Challenges That Will Test the Character
Struggling to find the right therapist
Being unable to afford therapy
Their job or career being jeopardized if people learn the character is going to therapy
Basic Human Needs It Could Fill
Love and Connection: Processing relational wounds or learning healthier communication patterns can improve a character’s ability to connect authentically with others.
Physiological Needs: Addressing chronic stress, trauma, or anxiety through therapy can improve sleep, appetite, and overall physical and mental health.
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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