Everyone struggles with crippling fears, which are terrible aspects of being human.
These anxieties have an impact on a character’s behaviors, habits, beliefs, and personality features, whether they are brought on by learned behavior from childhood, are connected to a mental health issue, or originate from a previous traumatic experience.
Characters will be driven away from particular people, events, and situations and held back in life by their urge to avoid what they dread.

This main fear (or group of fears) in your novel will repeatedly threaten the objective the character is pursuing, compelling them to withdraw, compromise, and give up on what they desire most.
It plays a crucial role in both since this fear must be overcome for them to succeed, find balance, and feel fulfilled.

This thesaurus looks at the several kinds of anxieties that could be affecting your character.
In order to completely develop your characters and guide them through their story arc, use it to understand and utilize anxieties.
Please be aware that this is not a tool for self-diagnosis.
Although we occasionally exhibit the same characteristics as characters, fears are a typical occurrence in real life, and the section below is solely meant to be used in fiction writing.

I’m afraid I’ll never be happy

Notes

A person who fears they will never be happy could believe they are unworthy of happiness.
Additionally, it’s possible that they’ve had enough of life’s many setbacks and are unwilling to place any more hope in anything.
Because of this anxiety, the character’s emotions are split into two extremes: either they spend their entire time seeking happiness or running from it.

How It Appearance

They are looking for the one item that will ignite their inner fire.

experimenting with a variety of pastimes and hobbies

researching philosophies, religions, and other beliefs

being alone a lot, and contemplating life

Hopping from job to job in search of the ideal one

Abusing drink or drugs to escape from pain or to find serenity

concealing or withdrawing from the public

angering others out of frustration

aiming for perfection

talking negatively to oneself

Having trouble making judgments

Being unable to progress toward something they want Being unable to discover activities that delight them

dislike everything about life

exhibiting a “why me” mentality

Typical Internal Conflicts
Character’s inability to experience joy because of constant anxiety about potential negative outcomes

even after something good occurs, feeling numb

Keeping your mind on the past even when things have improved

worrying about the future rather than appreciating the good things in the here and now

The persona experiences anxiety

not being able to recognize their own worth

Despite having done nothing wrong, they feel guilty or ashamed.

Flaws That Could Appear

Inattentive, restrained, insecure, irrational, theatrical, needy, anxious, overly sensitive, pessimistic, reckless, resentful, self-destructive, submissive, timid, uncommunicative, whiny, withdrawing

Flaws That Could Appear

Inattentive, restrained, insecure, irrational, theatrical, needy, anxious, overly sensitive, pessimistic, reckless, resentful, self-destructive, submissive, timid, uncommunicative, whiny, withdrawing

Life Obstacles and Disruptions for the Character

finding it challenging to make friends

The protagonist not pursuing their goals in life

ignoring great chances and accepting the current quo

persistent drug use

unable to move forward because of sadness, social anxiety, etc.

a delusional belief that everyone is out to get them

believing that destiny, god, or the universe are against them

being motivated by bad feelings and thoughts

Situations That Could Provoke This Fear

becoming a victim

The character has a loss that makes it appear hard for them to pursue their goal (a musician going deaf, an athlete losing a limb, etc.)

When the protagonist loses their ideal job,

enduring a string of setbacks in a short period of time

a significant catastrophe (a weather event, economic depression, pandemic, etc.)
having a detrimental effect on the character

a difficult-to-overcome health emergency (cancer, a stroke, a chronic illness diagnosis, etc.)

the loss of a close relative

A great chance that was lost at the final minute.

By Rima

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