EMOTION THESAURUS

WORRY



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HELPFUL TIP:

The inner landscape of your characters (especially your protagonist) is the lifeblood that runs through your story. Emotions, and how they're expressed, are tied deeply to a character’s personality and which positive traits and negative traits will manifest. To bring your readers in deeper through shared experience, consider filtering the setting descriptions through your character’s emotions while also exploring important colors, textures, and shapes through his or her senses.
DEFINITION:
Mental distress that arises from disturbing thoughts, usually regarding some anticipated event

PHYSICAL SIGNALS AND BEHAVIORS:
Wrinkling the brow
Biting one's lip
Pinching the skin at the throat
Feet that bounce or tap
Pulling or twisting at one's hair
Pacing
Drinking too much coffee, smoking too much
Circles under the eyes
Eyebrows drawing together
Tossing and turning in bed, an inability to sleep
Asking too many questions
Stroking or rubbing an eyebrow
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INTERNAL SENSATIONS:
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MENTAL RESPONSES:
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CUES OF ACUTE OR LONG TERM WORRY:
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MAY ESCALATE TO:
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CUES OF SUPPRESSED WORRY:
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MAY DE-ESCALATE TO:
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ASSOCIATED POWER VERBS:
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