EMOTIONAL WOUND THESAURUS

WATCHING SOMEONE DIE



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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:
Trying (and failing) to help a passenger in the aftermath of a car accident
Witnessing a friend's hit and run as she crosses the street
Losing a loved one to a drowning or boating accident on a family vacation
Offering end-of-life comfort (e.g., after a fatal fall)
Finding someone alive after a natural disaster but being too late to save him or her
Being helpless to stop a violent act such as a mugging or hate crime beating
Witnessing someone die in a random accident, like being electrocuted by faulty wiring or being involved in a fatal motorcycle accident
Being unable to reach a person who is trapped by fire (seeing them on a high-rise balcony with nowhere to go or being unable to reach the building floor they're trapped on)
A child experiencing a fatal accident during a sporting game or practice

WOUND CATEGORY:
Failures and Mistakes, Traumatic Events

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 failed when it mattered most
They should have died instead
Anyone they love will be taken away
They're toxic to the people around them (if blame comes into play)
Loving someone will only end in pain
You can die at any moment, so planning for the future is futile
Danger is everywhere and you can never let down your guard

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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