NEGATIVE TRAIT THESAURUS

WORRYWART



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HELPFUL TIP:

Characters with this flaw will be extra sensitive to certain emotions, so think about how events in your story might specifically trigger these feelings to generate compelling tension and conflict. Another idea is to give a supporting character a positive attribute that is an opposite of this flaw, which will get under the skin of both characters and cause friction in their relationship.
DEFINITION:
Inclined to excessive worrying

POSSIBLE CAUSES:
Anxiety (panic disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, etc.)
Overprotective parents
Being raised by a caregiver who worried unnecessarily
Not being protected and nurtured as a child
A lack of trust
A past failure or emotional hurt one cannot forget or move past

ASSOCIATED BEHAVIORS AND ATTITUDES:
Knowing that one's worries are silly but being unable to stop
Being plagued by obsessive thoughts
Health issues (irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, nausea, etc.)
Keen observation skills
Fatigue
Depression
Fearing that a loved one will be hurt
Worry that a past traumatic event will happen to one's child (a car wreck, almost drowning, etc.)
Being unable to turn off one's thoughts
Frequently visiting the doctor due to imagined ailments or those caused by chronic worrying
Worrying about things beyond one's control: "What if I get cancer?"
Assuming the worst about any deviation in schedule: "Ann's late. What if her car broke down?"
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ASSOCIATED THOUGHTS:
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ASSOCIATED EMOTIONS:
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POSITIVE ASPECTS:
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NEGATIVE ASPECTS:
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EXAMPLE FROM FILM:
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OVERCOMING THIS TRAIT AS A MAJOR FLAW:
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TRAITS IN SUPPORTING CHARACTERS THAT MAY CAUSE CONFLICT:
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