EMOTIONAL WOUND THESAURUS

A PARENT'S ABANDONMENT OR REJECTION



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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:
Being abandoned as an infant (on a doorstep, in a dumpster, on the side of the road, etc.)
A parent giving up his or her rights and turning the child over to the state
Being left with relatives for long periods of time with little communication from one's parent
Being left alone as a young child to fend for oneself
Having a parent who frequently left for long periods of time without warning or apology
Being subjected to a life of foster care when one's parent left or was imprisoned
Being rejected due to stigma, superstition, or prejudice (because of albinism, a deformity, being a child of rape, etc.)
A parent who used rejection and abandonment as a form of emotional abuse

WOUND CATEGORY:
Misplaced Trust and Betrayals, Specific Childhood Wounds, Traumatic Events, Abandonment

BASIC NEEDS OFTEN COMPROMISED BY THIS WOUND:
love and belonging, safety and security, physiological needs

LIES THAT MAY DEVELOP FOR CHARACTERS WITH THIS WOUND:
No one wants to be with someone who is defective
If they achieve enough, they'll will be worthy of love
They need to push others away before rejection becomes a risk
Choosing to be alone is better than chancing rejection
If you let someone in, they will only hurt you
Someone better will always come along to take their place
People always leave when times get tough

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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