Coping Mechanism Thesaurus

Unhealthy mechanisms are forms of emotional shielding meant to protect the character from harm—specifically, from the recurrence of a past wounding event. And many times, they do keep those traumas from repeating, but practices like denial, avoidance, overindulgence, and self-sabotage generate new issues that reverberate through their relationships, work performance, personal satisfaction, and the pursuit of their story goal.

Over the course of a story, the character must become aware of their go-to mechanism, realize how it’s holding them back, and replace it with healthy coping methods that will get them where they want to go. In this way, coping methods will play a key role in your character’s arc.

Use these thesaurus entry samples to explore the unhealthy coping mechanisms your character might rely on and the healthy methods they’ll need to replace them with if they want to evolve. Learn how to write each mechanism realistically, use them to support or undermine their basic human needs, and test the character’s resolve as they move forward.

Recommended Reading

What is a Coping Mechanism Thesaurus?

Thesaurus Entries to Date