EMOTIONAL WOUND THESAURUS

FAILING TO SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE



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HELPFUL TIP:

Emotional wounds will steer a character's behavior, corrupt his worldview, and cause negative traits to form. To understand exactly how this occurs, please read our tutorial for the Wound Thesaurus.

NOTE: We realize that sometimes a wound we profile may have personal meaning, stirring up the past for some of our readers. It is not our intent to create emotional turmoil. Please know that we research each wounding topic carefully to treat it with the utmost respect.
EXAMPLES:
A failed water rescue
Not stopping a suicide in time
Going for help but returning too late
Unsuccessfully preventing someone from choking
Aiding someone after a car accident (e.g., trying to stop the bleeding) but being unable to save them
Intervening during a mugging or physical attack
Failing at reasoning with a criminal during a hostage situation
An unsuccessful domestic dispute intervention
Failing to protect a child in a school shooting
Being unable to revive a loved one after an overdose
Being unable to prove child abuse to authorities until it's too late
Failing to save someone from a fall because one wasn't physically strong enough
Losing a patient in the ER or at the site of an accident
Failing to rescue a victim from a fire
Being unable to convince an impaired friend not to drive
Being unable to stop a friend from taking stupid risks
Failing to see the signs of a violent situation until it was too late
Being unable to protect a friend from bullying, racism, or another hate-motivated attack

WOUND CATEGORY:
Failures and Mistakes, Traumatic Events

BASIC NEEDS OFTEN COMPROMISED BY THIS WOUND:
love and belonging, safety and security, esteem and recognition, self-actualization

LIES THAT MAY DEVELOP FOR CHARACTERS WITH THIS WOUND:
They can't protect the people they love
They're weak and ineffective
It should have been them instead
It's better to avoid love than to love and lose it
They're responsible for this death
Their life should not be their own
They must take on the victim's responsibilities and burdens
The world is unfeeling and cruel
People are inherently evil
You can't rely on the system for justice

THE CHARACTER MAY FEAR:
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POSSIBLE RESPONSES AND RESULTS:
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POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES THAT MAY RESULT:
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NEGATIVE TRAITS THAT MAY RESULT:
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TRIGGERS THAT MIGHT AGGRAVATE THIS WOUND:
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STEPS TOWARD HEALING:
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OPPORTUNITIES TO FACE OR OVERCOME THIS WOUND:
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