EMOTIONAL WOUND THESAURUS

BEING UNFAIRLY BLAMED FOR SOMEONE'S DEATH



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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:
When one was unable to deter a friend from driving while impaired
Following a disagreement with someone who then committed suicide
When one didn't pick up a pedestrian who was then struck by a vehicle while walking home
Weren't able to stop someone's risk-taking behavior
When they failed to recognize a friend's distress (like alcohol poisoning) due to their own impairment
Because they couldn't protect a sibling from their own bad decisions
Because one was the eldest child in a tragic situation (e.g., playing outside and a younger sister was kidnapped)
While roughhousing with a friend who suffered a sudden fall or freak accident
Because one was unable to reach someone in time (a lifeguard and a drowning swimmer, a fireman and the victim of a house fire, a police officer unable to talk down a jumper, etc.)
When one needed to save two people but only had the time or resources to save one
Because one was wearing a helmet during a quad accident but a friend was not
During a no-fault accident where someone was killed
Because one took a sick day and the co-worker covering the shift was killed in a robbery
When a depressed loved one took her own life
When a child was blamed for the mother's death during childbirth

WOUND CATEGORY:
Injustice and Hardship

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

LIES THAT MAY DEVELOP FOR CHARACTERS WITH THIS WOUND:
They should have died instead of their sister (or cousin, mother, friend, etc.)
To make amends, they must live life the way the deceased would have if he (or she) had lived
They will never be able to make it up to the deceased and the person who blames them
They do not deserve to be happy or have good things happen
They're a terrible mother (or father, sister, brother, wife, husband, etc.) for not seeing what was unfolding
They're not capable of being in charge or making important decisions
To prove they're capable and worthy, they must be responsible for and excel at everything

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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