FEAR THESAURUS

BEING SEPARATED FROM LOVED ONES



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HELPFUL TIP:

A deeply embedded fear often stems from trauma, so it can be helpful to explore emotional wounds that may be a factor. Your character might also become risk-averse, avoiding people and situations they associate with this fear. And for a character to achieve their story goal, they must overcome any fear-based thinking that's holding them back. The Character Builder is a great resource for pulling all these factors together.
NOTES:
A certain amount of separation anxiety among loved ones is normal; after all, it's easier to control circumstances and keep everyone safe when they're in close proximity. But people of all ages can go to an extreme in this area, becoming panicked, distracted, and unable to function when their important people are out of sight. This can cause obvious problems in the important relationships the character want to nurture, as well as stunting normal development of the people in their care.

WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE:
Codependency
Difficulty sleeping alone
Difficulty concentrating at school or work
The character frequently missing school or work because they have to be home with family
Having an extremely limited social life; not wanting to leave loved ones at home
Frequent calling or texting to check up on loved ones
Refusing to travel far without family
Being unable to stay home alone
Instituting stifling and restricting rules for people in the character's care
Investing in home security cameras so the character can always see that their loved ones are safe
Difficulty socializing with people outside of the character's family
Making important decisions based on proximity (working with family members, choosing a job close to a child's school, etc.)
The character always being present when their child is away (chaperoning school trips, volunteering at youth group, etc.)
Being nervous when a family member is traveling
Obsessively checking location apps to track loved ones when they're away
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COMMON INTERNAL STRUGGLES:
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FLAWS THAT MAY EMERGE:
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HINDRANCES AND DISRUPTIONS TO THE CHARACTER'S LIFE:
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EMOTIONAL WOUNDS IT COULD STEM FROM:
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SCENARIOS THAT MIGHT AWAKEN THIS FEAR :
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HUMAN NEEDS THAT COULD BE IMPACTED:
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GOALS MADE DIFFICULT BY THIS FEAR:
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CONFLICT SCENARIOS THAT OFFER GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES:
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