Post by click on May 25, 2009 21:21:48 GMT -5
So I just noticed that this Writing Workshop thing exists, and I think it's a fantastic idea, so I figured I'd give it a whirl.
I've been working on Click's reactions and behavior, trying to figure out exactly what sort of formula his brain would have worked out after years of living with his psychosis. For those of you who don't wish to go back to his profile, I'll post the relevant portion here:
Character's History: Tyler was raised in New York City by well-off parents who were very careful to maintain the image of a happy family, often to the point of emotional distance. His father developed severe depression when Tyler was ten and moved the family to Atlanta. He committed suicide when his son was twelve. Upon finding her husband's body, Tyler's mother followed suit, leaving Tyler to find both of their bodies.
His power activated at the emotional shock, adding to his fear and trauma. Not understanding why nothing around him was moving and thinking that it was a chance for him to change things, Tyler decided to go to New York where they had been happy. He walked the entire way, barely eating or sleeping. When he got to the city, and ended up in an unfamiliar and highly disreputable neighborhood, Tyler panicked again and slowed down.
Because of the extended time sped-up, Tyler passed out and was unable to sustain consciousness for almost a week. A local mutant tattoo artist, Donnie, found him unconscious on the street and took him in. Tyler sleeps on friends' couches, from Donnie to local strippers. At sixteen, Donnie finally convinced him to start school at Xavier's.
Character's Personality (must be at LEAST 7 sentences): Tyler has suppressed all of his bad memories and deluded himself to the point that he doesn't question why he doesn't know much about his life before he returned to New York. He fears all negative emotions in himself and others because his subconscious has generalized his trauma so greatly. All negative emotions are dangerous and he refuses to acknowledge them. If something does force him to confront a painful memory, he suffers a panic attack and promptly blocks the entire memory out.
Boredom is the worst emotion he allows himself to remember. He is happy all the time, loves everyone he meets, and has few inhibitions about anything but making himself or others unhappy, making him a bit of a hedonist. He is uncomfortable with others exibiting negative emotions, and given a fight-or-flight situation, he will always choose flight. When interacting with him, it's fairly noticeable that there's something not quite right about him.
So I figure that his condition can be pretty closely related to severe PTSD with the suppression and panic attacks, but obviously there are some deeper emotional issues at work because of his fear of negativity and his generalized demonization of sadness. Keep in mind that he's not a particularly bright boy, so it's easy for his mind to keep him on a shallow and unquestioning level of consciousness without dealing with introspection.
I welcome any constructive criticism on this, but specifically, I'd like to know if anyone has any knowledge about PTSD that might help me create more realistic responses to negative situations. Much appreciated!
I've been working on Click's reactions and behavior, trying to figure out exactly what sort of formula his brain would have worked out after years of living with his psychosis. For those of you who don't wish to go back to his profile, I'll post the relevant portion here:
Character's History: Tyler was raised in New York City by well-off parents who were very careful to maintain the image of a happy family, often to the point of emotional distance. His father developed severe depression when Tyler was ten and moved the family to Atlanta. He committed suicide when his son was twelve. Upon finding her husband's body, Tyler's mother followed suit, leaving Tyler to find both of their bodies.
His power activated at the emotional shock, adding to his fear and trauma. Not understanding why nothing around him was moving and thinking that it was a chance for him to change things, Tyler decided to go to New York where they had been happy. He walked the entire way, barely eating or sleeping. When he got to the city, and ended up in an unfamiliar and highly disreputable neighborhood, Tyler panicked again and slowed down.
Because of the extended time sped-up, Tyler passed out and was unable to sustain consciousness for almost a week. A local mutant tattoo artist, Donnie, found him unconscious on the street and took him in. Tyler sleeps on friends' couches, from Donnie to local strippers. At sixteen, Donnie finally convinced him to start school at Xavier's.
Character's Personality (must be at LEAST 7 sentences): Tyler has suppressed all of his bad memories and deluded himself to the point that he doesn't question why he doesn't know much about his life before he returned to New York. He fears all negative emotions in himself and others because his subconscious has generalized his trauma so greatly. All negative emotions are dangerous and he refuses to acknowledge them. If something does force him to confront a painful memory, he suffers a panic attack and promptly blocks the entire memory out.
Boredom is the worst emotion he allows himself to remember. He is happy all the time, loves everyone he meets, and has few inhibitions about anything but making himself or others unhappy, making him a bit of a hedonist. He is uncomfortable with others exibiting negative emotions, and given a fight-or-flight situation, he will always choose flight. When interacting with him, it's fairly noticeable that there's something not quite right about him.
So I figure that his condition can be pretty closely related to severe PTSD with the suppression and panic attacks, but obviously there are some deeper emotional issues at work because of his fear of negativity and his generalized demonization of sadness. Keep in mind that he's not a particularly bright boy, so it's easy for his mind to keep him on a shallow and unquestioning level of consciousness without dealing with introspection.
I welcome any constructive criticism on this, but specifically, I'd like to know if anyone has any knowledge about PTSD that might help me create more realistic responses to negative situations. Much appreciated!