1. broodwitch

    broodwitch New Member

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    need help developing a man for an insanity story.

    Discussion in 'Character Development' started by broodwitch, Dec 31, 2009.

    well, in my story the main character starts off as a well to do guy who has an upper-middle class paying job who will soon ask a girl out, but she already has a boyfriend. Then he later starts to gradually slip into the paranoid then into insanity state of mind
     
  2. DragonGrim

    DragonGrim New Member

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    Do you mean his desire for the girl causes him to go crazy, or are these two things separate?
     
  3. broodwitch

    broodwitch New Member

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    oh sorry, i meant to make them two separate things, but the main character he doesn't mind not getting the girl it's just another thing for him. but he started keeping a journal/diary and after a few entries he starts to gradually lose his mind.
     
  4. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

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    Insanity is a very broad term. You have a steep learning curve ahead of you if you can't be more specific. You'll need to understand the differences between various emotional disorders, along with causes and the development of symptoms over time.

    You may want to discuss with members of a psychology forum to get a more realistic portrayal of an appropriate mental illness for your character.
     
  5. broodwitch

    broodwitch New Member

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    yeah that'd probably be best, since it was a story idea I got like 4 hours ago. I was gonna ask my psychology teacher, but i'm on Christmas break right now. So I figured I could get a little insight on here. ty for reply's though.
     
  6. DragonGrim

    DragonGrim New Member

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    If insanity is the driving force behind this character, make sure that it has an impact on the events of the story. It sounds as though you are separating the beginning of your story from his condition, such as a girl that he is interested in. I think it should all be connected.
     
  7. Yoish

    Yoish New Member

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    I work in the field of mental health, so I might be able to help you, but to reiterate others, insanity is a broad term. What happens to him? Does he hear voices? Hallucinate? Forget things?
     
  8. broodwitch

    broodwitch New Member

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    yeah, i can see what you guys are talking about. but what happens is that he starts the journal/diary a few days before he asks the girl out and finds out she has a boyfriend. Once that passes he starts to get paranoid thinking people are doing or saying things when they're not, and starts having weird dreams and he starts to lose his grasp on reality with things that are in his head.
     
  9. Yoish

    Yoish New Member

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    So what is your specific question?
    Do you have a specific diagnosis for him yet?

    (Isn't writing awesome? Let's all play psychiatrist now!)
     
  10. broodwitch

    broodwitch New Member

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    yeah, thinking this out helped me a bit i have it in the range of Dementia and schizophrenia. Now all i have to do is decide witch one the symptoms match more. Thanks for all the help:D
     
  11. Yoish

    Yoish New Member

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    Feel free to PM me if you have specific questions about behaviors expected from people with mental health issues. Like I said, this is my field. (My favorite story ever written was about a girl with hallucinations, the whole subject fascinates me.)
     
  12. broodwitch

    broodwitch New Member

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    thanks will do if needed
     
  13. Rees Cowden

    Rees Cowden New Member

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    Does he realize he is loosing it? Is he in denial? Maybe he is faking it.
     

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