EMOTIONAL WOUND THESAURUS

FAILING AT SCHOOL



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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:
One of the first places people experience success and failure is at school. When the cards are stacked against a character—particularly at a formative age—it not only becomes an ongoing academic struggle, but also causes ancillary damage, such as undermining their self-esteem and impacting their ability to connect with others. Consider some of the following examples as possible reasons why your character may struggle at school.

EXAMPLES:
A learning disability (dyslexia, dysgraphia, processing disorders, etc.)
A behavioral or mental disorder (anxiety, ADHD, panic attacks, depression, bipolar, etc.)
Medical problems that cause one to miss a lot of school
A sensory processing disorder that makes school an overwhelming experience
Taking medication that interferes with one's ability to focus or learn
Having a low IQ
Getting no support at home
Problems at home (abuse, a family member's addiction, being forced to care for siblings, etc.)
External pressures that make school a low priority (working multiple jobs to provide for one's family, suffering from malnutrition, being homeless, etc.)

WOUND CATEGORY:
Disabilities and Disfigurements, Failures and Mistakes

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

LIES THAT MAY DEVELOP FOR CHARACTERS WITH THIS WOUND:
They're stupid
They can't learn
They're going to fail no matter how hard they try
They're no good at school (or math, reading, etc.)
They're worthless
If they don't do well in school, their parents won't love them
Giving up is better than failing

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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