EMOTIONAL WOUND THESAURUS

BEING FORCED TO KEEP A DARK SECRET



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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:
One's child being a sociopath
A spouse's hit-and-run
The abuse of a family member
A murder cover-up in the family
A horrible deathbed confession that has repercussions for loved ones
One's child being an accomplice in a mass murder
One's spouse belonging to a terrorist organization
An illegal adoption
One's family running a drug smuggling operation
Being related to someone of notoriety, like Hitler, Castro, or bin Laden
A parent embezzling funds from work or stealing money from those who are vulnerable

WOUND CATEGORY:
Injustice and Hardship, Misplaced Trust and Betrayals

BASIC NEEDS OFTEN COMPROMISED BY THIS WOUND:

safety and security, love and belonging, esteem and recognition


LIES THAT MAY DEVELOP FOR CHARACTERS WITH THIS WOUND:
They could end up being just like the person forcing them to keep the secret
They'll be a pariah if people find out
Their silence has made them an accomplice, so they can't tell
Keeping the secret is best for everyone
The well-being of the family is more important than the truth
Telling would make them disloyal
The secret will come out eventually; they don't have to be the one to disclose it
You're only guilty if you get caught
No one could love them if they knew the truth
People have moved on, so bringing the truth out will only cause more damage

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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