EMOTIONAL WOUND THESAURUS

UNREQUITED LOVE



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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.
NOTES:
In this scenario, the character loves someone who doesn't return that love. Often, the beloved knows about the character's feelings but doesn't feel the same way. In other cases, the beloved is oblivious to how the character feels, and the character is left to pine away in silence.

EXAMPLES:
The object of the character's affection doesn't care for them in the same way
The beloved is oblivious to the character's feelings
The other person is married or in a committed relationship
The person the character desires used to be with a best friend or sibling
It's taboo for the character to be with that person due to race, age differences, religious constraints, family expectations, societal prejudices, etc.

WOUND CATEGORY:
Injustice and Hardship

BASIC NEEDS OFTEN COMPROMISED BY THIS WOUND:

love and belonging, esteem and recognition, self-actualization


LIES THAT MAY DEVELOP FOR CHARACTERS WITH THIS WOUND:
Life isn't worth living without the other person's love
They're not good enough; that's why they're not with the other person
This person is their soul mate—their only chance at true love
If they prove their worth, she (or he) will come around
If they change enough, he (or she) will love me

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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