EMOTION AMPLIFIER THESAURUS

SUBSTANCE WITHDRAWAL



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HELPFUL TIP:

Amplifiers are conditions that enhance emotions, causing characters to become more volatile. This often leads to impaired decision-making, hasty actions and, best of all, mistakes. When utilizing an amplifier to generate conflict, think carefully about setting choices and which environments will naturally escalate emotion. An amplifier can also be perfect for triggering your character’s negative traits; the resulting fallout will draw attention to how his flaws trip him up and hold him back.
DESCRIPTION:
Withdrawal includes the physical, mental, and emotional symptoms that arise when an addict stops taking drugs or alcohol. It can be voluntary (if the character is willingly trying to become sober) or forced (because they're being pressured to go without or they've lost access to the substance). For related information, see ADDICTION.

PHYSICAL SIGNALS AND BEHAVIORS:
The character sleeping too much or not enough
Erratic moods
Trembling in the extremities
Dilated pupils and quick eye movements
Restlessness
Being overly reactive to stimuli
The character appearing disoriented
Struggling with fine motor skills
Excessive sweating
Yawning and other signs of sleepiness
Spending a lot of time in bed
Experiencing body twitches
Crying frequently
Retreating to a quiet, dimly lit place
Not returning phone calls and texts; going radio silent
Needing frequent breaks from activities
Vomiting
Becoming combative and confrontational
Avoiding places where the substance is present (if the character is trying to quit)
Removing all alcohol or drugs from their home
Changing social patterns
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INTERNAL SENSATIONS:
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MENTAL RESPONSES:
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ACUTE OR LONG-TERM CUES:
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EFFORTS TO HIDE THE EFFECTS OF SUBSTANCE WITHDRAWAL:
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ASSOCIATED POWER VERBS:
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EMOTIONS GENERATED BY THIS AMPLIFIER:
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DUTIES OR DESIRES THAT MAY BE MORE DIFFICULT TO FULFILL:
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SCENARIOS FOR BUILDING CONFLICT AND TENSION:
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WRITER’S TIP:
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