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.
Visualization
Definition
Mentally rehearsing success or positive outcomes by picturing the desired results in detail
What It May Look Like
Picturing perfect execution before performing (an athletic event, a musical piece, a speech, etc.)
Mentally rehearsing a physical skill in slow motion to refine technique
Hiring a coach to guide them through a visualization session
Visualizing possibilities to clarify what they actually want
Engaging with others (a partner, allies, etc.) to develop a shared vision of success
Practicing an upcoming conversation that will be difficult
Internal Struggles
Being overwhelmed by the gap between the vision and current reality
Visualization attempts gravitating toward images of failure
Fearing they won’t be able to make their vision a reality
Challenges That Will Test the Character
Noise, interruptions, or physical discomfort making it hard to concentrate
Visualizing success but freezing when it’s time to act
Being criticized for being “woo-woo” or impractical
Basic Human Needs It Could Fill
Self-Actualization: Visualization helps characters clarify their goals, align with their values, and mentally rehearse becoming the person they want to be.
Esteem and Recognition: Mentally rehearsing success builds confidence and self-belief, helping the character approach challenges with agency.
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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