Home Page › Forums › Fiction Writing › Characters › Resources for Writing Mental Illnesses/Disorders/Disabilities
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January 8, 2023 at 4:17 pm #128419
I think putting this in the Character Forum makes sense since the characters are going to be the ones having these things. If not, oh well. I tried.
And now for tags: @godlyfantasy12 @freedomwriter76 @loopylin @orielle21 @esther-c @lightoverdarkness6 @sarafini @folith-feolin @otherworldly-historian @mineralizedwritings
If I’ve tagged you and you’d rather not participate or read this, don’t worry about it! =)
If I haven’t tagged you and you’re interested in the topic, feel free to join!
This topic is for discussing, sharing resources, and trying to figure out whether your characters have any mental illnesses or disorders or disabilities.
For the sensitive of us out here (me included) please include content warnings for the resources that you share. =)
I’m pretty sure my MC, Teilo, has ASD level one, and I suspect that Luca has autism as well, but I’m less certain about him. I have multiple characters that suffer from anxiety and depression. I’m wondering if a couple of my characters may or may not have PTSD as well…
What about y’all?
"...I did not say to the seed of Jacob, 'Seek Me in vain..."
(Part of) Isaiah 45:19January 8, 2023 at 4:30 pm #128424I will definitely be here some!! My charries go thru quite a lotā¦ so they do have a few issues even if they might not technically be called āillnesses or disordersā
#IfMarcelDiesIRiot
#ProtectMarcel
#ProtectSebJanuary 8, 2023 at 4:34 pm #128426Great idea!! yeah, my charries (especially Asher and Matthew š [My poor boys]) have anxiety/PTSD/etc. I’m not sure exactly sure which one (or if they have something different) yet.
I’ll be on and off of here!! š
#HugRikerSquad
January 8, 2023 at 5:25 pm #128435Cool! Yeah, even if it doesn’t have a ‘label’ you’re still welcome to talk about their struggles. =)
Thanks, just saw a commonality and thought it’d be interesting to talk about it.
"...I did not say to the seed of Jacob, 'Seek Me in vain..."
(Part of) Isaiah 45:19January 8, 2023 at 5:30 pm #128438Oh! That’s interesting about your characters. It’s basically all my oc Kaine for me. Ok also Kieryn. Kendrick is the worst off, but his plot is directly tied to Kaines. Book 3 is basically a whole plot around mental health and healing. I like to think my books get slightly more serious with each, although dystopian, book one is pretty fluffy. It’s about healing, but more of the childlike learning how to have fun again type. Book two is about the sacrifices needed to help others (Layson and Maylee) and book 3 is about the pain of healing. It’s a major jump in seriousness. I gotta be careful what I share here, with the trigger warnings and stuff XD It’s weird, I’m the one who usually needs trigger warnings, but because I relate to Kendricks issues, it almost has no affect on me reading or writing it. Even though I’ve never experienced anything that extreme, because I understand a bit of how it happens, it’s not really disturbing too me. I’ve never been as worse off as he is though.
Basically, the things that make Kaine and Kendrick unhealthy are one and the same event. kendrick unintentionallyĀ injured Everly, Kaine’s sister. Kaine had some ptsd from the event, and was much more affected than Everly. He’s got other issues, but lives in fear of it happening again. Kendrick deals with extreme guilt, to the point he acts a bit crazy at times. They end up meeting at some point, and bond over their depression. Kaine has a pretty dark sense of humor because of what he’s been through. They share that humor, but it isn’t long before Kaine realizes Kendrick actually means the things he says. Anyways, I won’t go into detail, but Kaine ends up saving Kendrick. It’s a bunch of stuff I came up with last night, I never thought my last book would end up this way, but I think it could work out to have some great themes. I tried to be unspecific so it wouldn’t be too much, but tell me if I should have used a trigger warning!
Ok, so Keiryn has been told not to cry. He’s also on a 2 year not crying streak because he thinks that’s a good thing. š
His parents are divorced and he just bottled up all the stuffs.
I’d love to hear more about your characters and how there mental health ties into the plot! If you want to share, I know I just did a huge info dump XD
Also, can you tell I like K names? š¤
Kaine, Kieryn, and Kendrick become a friend group at the end, they are all about the same age.
"And so I left this world just as I had entered it. Confused."
January 8, 2023 at 5:48 pm #128442I gotta be careful what I share here, with the trigger warnings and stuff XD I
The sharing was mostly about if people put links on here to other things that explain what they’re talking about. As for talking about your characters, you’re welcome to share whatever you what, but you can add trigger warnings if you think it needs it.
Itās weird, Iām the one who usually needs trigger warnings, but because I relate to Kendricks issues, it almost has no affect on me reading or writing it. Even though Iāve never experienced anything that extreme, because I understand a bit of how it happens, itās not really disturbing too me. Iāve never been as worse off as he is though.
SAME. XD I actually didn’t realize I was writing characters with these conditions until I was diagnosed myself and saw a lot of similarities with my characters.
Itās basically all my oc Kaine for me. Ok also Kieryn. Kendrick is the worst off, but his plot is directly tied to Kaines. Book 3 is basically a whole plot around mental health and healing. I like to think my books get slightly more serious with each, although dystopian, book one is pretty fluffy. Itās about healing, but more of the childlike learning how to have fun again type. Book two is about the sacrifices needed to help others (Layson and Maylee) and book 3 is about the pain of healing. Itās a major jump in seriousness.
Sounds cool!
Basically, the things that make Kaine and Kendrick unhealthy are one and the same event. kendrick unintentionally injured Everly, Kaineās sister. Kaine had some ptsd from the event, and was much more affected than Everly. Heās got other issues, but lives in fear of it happening again. Kendrick deals with extreme guilt, to the point he acts a bit crazy at times. They end up meeting at some point, and bond over their depression. Kaine has a pretty dark sense of humor because of what heās been through. They share that humor, but it isnāt long before Kaine realizes Kendrick actually means the things he says. Anyways, I wonāt go into detail, but Kaine ends up saving Kendrick. Itās a bunch of stuff I came up with last night, I never thought my last book would end up this way, but I think it could work out to have some great themes. I tried to be unspecific so it wouldnāt be too much, but tell me if I should have used a trigger warning!
Girl this sounds great! *excited claps* And about the trigger warnings, you’re fine, don’t worry about it unless you link us to an article or video or for some reason you start describing in gruesome detail (which I highly doubt you would).
Ok, so Keiryn has been told not to cry. Heās also on a 2 year not crying streak because he thinks thatās a good thing. š
…KEIRYN! NO! I understand not liking to cry, but yikes. *scowls at mother who told him this*
His parents are divorced and he just bottled up all the stuffs.
Oh yikes.
Iād love to hear more about your characters and how there mental health ties into the plot! If you want to share, I know I just did a huge info dump XD
XD Infodumps are the best confusing messes out there. Okay, I’ll make it a plan to share more about them later tonight or tomorrow. (We have people coming to our house in 15 minutes and I don’t think I’d have an infodump ready in that time frame.)
Also, can you tell I like K names? š¤
XD I do too! I used to have character named Kyler in a story I’ve abandoned. I was really happy I found I name that was close to but wasn’t Kyle. And then I realized that was the name of a cousin of mine that I forgot about and was teased mercilessly by siblings (namely my sister).
Currently I have a thing for E and D names.
"...I did not say to the seed of Jacob, 'Seek Me in vain..."
(Part of) Isaiah 45:19January 8, 2023 at 5:58 pm #128446SAME. XD I actually didnāt realize I was writing characters with these conditions until I was diagnosed myself and saw a lot of similarities with my characters.
Yep. It happens a lot to me! š
Sounds cool!
Thanks!
Girl this sounds great! *excited claps* And about the trigger warnings, youāre fine, donāt worry about it unless you link us to an article or video or for some reason you start describing in gruesome detail (which I highly doubt you would).
Thanks!!! I’m super excited about it myself, It’s like a dream character arc for me to work on!
*excited clapping also*XD
I like getting to relate to the characters issues, but also I’m super excited to write Kaine coming through as a great friend. Kendrick on the other hand, doesn’t really want a friend š he thinks Kaine’s just in his way XD It’s a moment in his character arc, because he realizes Everly has long forgiven Kendrick. Also, that previous him would have never believed he would go through so much effort to rescue this person. (still lots of work to figure it out though)
ā¦KEIRYN! NO! I understand not liking to cry, but yikes. *scowls at mother who told him this*
Oh yeah… Keiryn’s mom. Maybe she has a reason for thinking that way? Idk, I’m not planning on doing her backstory, but I’m sure it’s rooted somewhere.
XD Infodumps are the best confusing messes out there. Okay, Iāll make it a plan to share more about them later tonight or tomorrow. (We have people coming to our house in 15 minutes and I donāt think Iād have an infodump ready in that time frame.)
Yup! The best form of communication! I’ll be looking forwards to it when you have the time! š
Yeah, siblings. I’m that sibling XD my sister isn’t super annoying, but I am. In a good way though XD I tease her about guys on a frequent basis. šš¤£
"And so I left this world just as I had entered it. Confused."
January 8, 2023 at 6:13 pm #128450Awww!!! Oh my goodness!! Your poor ‘K’ boys!! (That sounds like a music group. “The K Boys” XDXD)
I love L names, so it’s fine! K names are cool too :).
That’s so awesome. And you came up with that last night??! Wow!! I can’t wait to read it. XDXD
(I’m gonna go finish reading your chapters that you’ve posted of your book…bye) XD
#HugRikerSquad
January 8, 2023 at 6:15 pm #128452Yeah, siblings. Iām that sibling XD my sister isnāt super annoying, but I am. In a good way though XD I tease her about guys on a frequent basis. šš¤£
LOLOL!!! That’s my little brother. He teases me all the time too. But when I tease him about a girl, he gets all quiet and embarrassed it’s SO STINKIN CUTE!!! XDXD
#HugRikerSquad
January 8, 2023 at 6:19 pm #128453Awww!!! Oh my goodness!! Your poor āKā boys!! (That sounds like a music group. āThe K Boysā XDXD)
Yep! My poor K boys. A band? I suppose they are a K-pop band then š ok this is getting ridiculous and embarrassing. They would all hate that very much. Keiryn might manage ok though.
I love L names, so itās fine! K names are cool too :).
I like L names too! Lesli and Layson ended up with them!
Thatās so awesome. And you came up with that last night??! Wow!! I canāt wait to read it. XDXD
It’s going to be awhile… XDXD lot’s happens in between. Most of that actually occurs during Layson and Everly’s honeymoon, so yeah… lot’s to happen. XD I’m glad you want to read it though!
(Iām gonna go finish reading your chapters that youāve posted of your bookā¦bye) XD
Lol! Thanks for reading! I appreciate all yall who do! š
LOLOL!!! Thatās my little brother. He teases me all the time too. But when I tease him about a girl, he gets all quiet and embarrassed itās SO STINKIN CUTE!!! XDXD
That is HILARIOUS XDXD and very cute.
"And so I left this world just as I had entered it. Confused."
January 8, 2023 at 6:54 pm #128459Some of my also characters have mental health-related issues. Also, some of them are disabled (ie Timurlyn). There are also a lot of characters with very twisted minds (especially the maurozirs (and PijinyĀ š).
As for PTSD I could probably help a bit. I already have done some research and we have been talking about it in language arts class (because we were reading a short story called the rite which is about a person who survived the Hiroshima bombing and has PTSD). I have noticed you guys using it a lot and (trying not to be offensive) am not sure if you all know what it actually is. I have
I have added a link to an American Psychiatry AssociationĀ article on it (I don’t think there would be any content warnings I need to add)
Also after reading your post about/from November in the character castle I would recommend you ( @godlyfantasy12 ), look into dissociative disorders. http://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/dissociative-disorders/what-are-dissociative-disorders (Also just text. I would specifically look at Dissociative identity disorder for November.)
Also, can you tell I like K names? š¤
I also like K names.Through darkness,
light shines brightestJanuary 8, 2023 at 7:17 pm #128465Thanks for the info! That website was super helpful. I usually say Kaine has Anxiety and depression, for some reason I called it ptsd in that post. It seems like he has a lot of symptoms of it, but maybe not to the same extent or time length.
"And so I left this world just as I had entered it. Confused."
January 8, 2023 at 7:24 pm #128466Anonymous- Rank: Knight in Shining Armor
- Total Posts: 692
I personally bottle stuff up so I have a character who does that as well. She also has no friends except 2 neighbors (1 is 6 years older and the other 1 is 2 years older) so she’s very lonely. I’ve been in her shoes. Personally for about 4ish years I had no real friends. I’d see people at co-ops and stuff (I was homeschooled) but nobody would really card to actually talk to me. In 2019 I switched co-ops and made a couple friends and at church I met a girl in late 2020 who is now my best friend. Also, during my senior events this past year (2021-2022) I made some friends.
Oops. Went on a tangent about my own life when this is supposed to be characters lives. Oh well. Just giving you a bit of background into why my characters suffer as they do, I guess. Lol.
Anyway, I’ll be coming around a bit. š I think I’ll subscribe to this page actually.
January 8, 2023 at 7:25 pm #128467Anonymous- Rank: Knight in Shining Armor
- Total Posts: 692
That is supposed to be care not card btw.
January 8, 2023 at 8:07 pm #128472@sarafini
Yeah.. same actually XD I’ve pretty much always had my sister, so that helped. She’s a year older. I had a lot of people to talk to, but very few cared about me. I could ask them how they were doing, but I would have to start the conversation and be the one to carry it on. So yeah, it’s funny though, instead on me having a really lonely character, I had one with the friend I wanted. Tauren š¤£! Lesli is like me, and Tauren is like the friend I needed but never had. It’s always super interesting to me how life stuff gets into our writing.
"And so I left this world just as I had entered it. Confused."
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