The Fear Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to What Holds Characters Back

Fear fuels every story. This guide breaks down the fears that psychologically hold characters back. Learn how fear shapes motivation and behavior, drives poor decisions, and creates meaningful and relatable internal conflict.

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FEARS EXPLORED IN THIS BOOK

Show your character’s fear by how it hinders their goals, disrupts their life, and drives internal struggle. This database helps you explore possible behavior, choices, and inner conflict tied to 80+ psychological fears.

  • Survival Fears
    Being Hunted or Pursued
    Being Physically Attacked
    Death
    Physical Pain

    Stability and Control Fears
    Being Forced Into a Predetermined Fate
    Being Powerless
    Being Returned to an Abusive Environment
    Being Unsafe
    Being Watched
    Certain Emotions
    Certain Kinds of People
    Change
    Government
    Losing Autonomy
    Losing Financial Security
    Losing One’s Sanity
    Not Being in Control
    One’s Body Becoming a Prison
    One’s Genetics
    Persecution
    Running Out of a Critical Resource
    The Future
    The Past Being Discovered
    The Unknown

    Relationship Fears
    A Loved One Dying
    Abandonment

  • Being a Burden to Others
    Being Separated from Loved Ones
    Being Taken Advantage Of
    Being Taken for Granted
    Betrayal
    Conditional Love
    Conflict
    Emotional Vulnerability
    Heartbreak
    Infidelity
    Loneliness
    Never Finding Love
    Not Fitting In
    Physical Isolation
    Rejection
    Relationship Commitment
    Repeating a Cycle of Abuse
    Trusting Others

    Identity Fears
    Becoming a Parent
    Becoming What One Hates
    Being Capable of Harm
    Being Judged
    Being Labeled
    Being Pitied
    Being Responsible for Others
    Being Viewed as Weak
    Criticism
    Discrimination

  • Failure
    Growing Old
    Growing Up
    Humiliation
    Inadequacy
    Leading
    Letting People Down
    Losing One’s Heritage or Cultural Identity
    Losing One’s Social Standing
    Losing the Respect of Others
    Making the Wrong Decision
    Mediocrity
    Not Being Believed
    Not Being Enough
    Putting Oneself Out There
    Success

    Existential and Moral Fears
    Being Disappointed
    Being Still
    Being Unable to Achieve a Dream
    Being Wrong About Something Important
    Discovering an Uncomfortable Truth
    Divine Retribution
    Extinction
    Having No Purpose
    Leaving No Legacy
    Missing Out
    Never Finding Happiness
    Regret