EMOTION AMPLIFIER THESAURUS

HYPERACTIVITY



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HELPFUL TIP:

Amplifiers are conditions that enhance emotions, causing characters to become more volatile. This often leads to impaired decision-making, hasty actions and, best of all, mistakes. When utilizing an amplifier to generate conflict, think carefully about setting choices and which environments will naturally escalate emotion. An amplifier can also be perfect for triggering your character’s negative traits; the resulting fallout will draw attention to how his flaws trip him up and hold him back.
DESCRIPTION:
Hyperactivity is the state of being excessively active. When it results from a physical or mental condition or is part of the character's general personality, it can happen frequently. But it also could be situational, caused by medication, drug use, food additives, excess sugar, and even boredom and restlessness.

PHYSICAL SIGNALS AND BEHAVIORS:
Speaking rapidly or rambling
Squirming while idle
Pacing
Difficulty sitting still; being in constant motion
Twitching and spasming muscles
Spontaneity
Engaging in physical activity to release the excess energy
Rapid blinking 
Asking a lot of questions at once
The character verbalizing their thoughts, skipping from one idea to another
Interrupting others
Acting impatiently (dramatic sighs, nagging, mentioning something repeatedly, etc.)
Bouncing a leg or tapping the fingers
Wide eyes that try to look everywhere at once
Speaking with excitement
Monopolizing conversations
Breathlessness 
Being careless in their actions 
Pulling and plucking at clothing 
Moving the feet—shifting, side-stepping, bouncing, etc.
Fidgeting and fiddling (playing with keys, spinning a watch or wedding ring, etc.)
Arms that shift—going from hugging the waist to rubbing the hands together to swinging, for example
Biting the tongue, lips, or cheeks
The character touching objects in the environment
Swaying and bobbing, as if listening to a musical beat
Scrubbing a hand through the hair or repeatedly rubbing at the back of the neck 
Engaging in compulsive and restless habits, like nail biting
Acting impulsively without thinking things through
Switching between unfinished activities
Forgetting to clean up or put things away (or rushing the process and doing a poor job)
Struggling to finish sedentary responsibilities, such as writing a school assignment or reading a business report
Sleeping restlessly
Becoming aggressive
Mood swings
Disorganization
Tardiness

INTERNAL SENSATIONS:
Feeling highly energized
The sensation of vibrating or buzzing inside
Feeling a compulsive urge to run, jump, pace, or do something active
An internal jittery sensation
Increased heart rate
Adrenaline rushes
Restless arms or legs
Sensitivity to lights, sounds, textures, and smells
Tension in the muscles
Heightened senses

MENTAL RESPONSES:
Craving stimulation and seeking it out
Having a short attention span
Finding it hard to concentrate
Feeling constantly bored
Racing thoughts
An inability to relax
Being highly observant; noticing everything that's going on in the environment
Feeling guilt or shame for not being able to do things the way others do them
Self-critical thoughts
Feeling disconnected from others because of the character's differences
Experiencing intense emotions
Living in the moment, not thinking about the future
The character worrying over what people think of them
Trying to figure out and exhibit the expected behavior in a situation

ACUTE OR LONG-TERM CUES:
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EFFORTS TO HIDE THE HYPERACTIVITY:
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ASSOCIATED POWER VERBS:
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EMOTIONS GENERATED BY THIS AMPLIFIER:
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DUTIES OR DESIRES THAT MAY BE MORE DIFFICULT TO FULFILL:
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SCENARIOS FOR BUILDING CONFLICT AND TENSION:
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WRITER’S TIP:
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