DISILLUSIONMENT DEFINITION:Hurt and disappointment upon discovering that one’s belief is false or trust in someone has been misplaced PHYSICAL SIGNALS AND BEHAVIORS: Rapid blinking while the rest of the face goes slack Cocking the head and displaying a fixed look as one wrestles with a sudden discovery Posture that stiffens, then droops Stumbling slightly as realization kicks in Laying a hand against one’s chest, then pulling the front of one’s shirt into a fist Stuttering; trying to form sentences but failing Breaths coming faster and deeper, with the chest visibly rising and falling Looking at the source, then away, and then back in utter disbelief Holding one’s head in one’s hands UtteringNo, orIt can’t be. Arms wrapping around oneself in a self-soothing manner The eyes widening while one’s head moves forward Being open-mouthed and incapable of speech Citing evidence that supports old beliefs:But you promised you’d quit! Putting one’s hand up in a warding off gesture Rapid breathing while glancing upward A mouth that trembles A visible shudder that goes through the entire body Pinching one’s lips with tented hands while shaking the head Stepping back to increase one’s personal space Clutching at a totem that symbolizes one’s belief (a cross, a gift from the subject, etc.) Backing up and stumbling because one is not attentive to one’s surroundings Recoiling from those who offer comfort Doubting the messenger:You must be wrong. He’d never do that. Voicing shock Openly staring at the subject with a pained look that contains hurt and anger Weaving one’s hands into the hair and pulling slightly to try and anchor one’s emotions Color bleeding from one’s face (shock) or suddenly flushing (anger) Offering excuses to cling to previously held beliefs:But they forced you, right? Leaning forward to catch signs of guilt (when one is with the individual involved) Staggering away from the person or thing representing one’s disillusionment Shaking the head and cutting the person off so one can process the information INTERNAL SENSATIONS: Feeling cold all over An unsettling heaviness or ache in the chest The stomach hardening Ribs tightening A shudder that shakes one’s core MENTAL RESPONSES: The mind flashing to events or moments that first made one believe Experiencing epiphanies in the form of signs one didn’t pick up on at the time The mind racing for explanations due to an extreme desire to disbelieve the evidence Thoughts jumping from memory to memory as one wonders if the accusations could be true Feeling so disoriented one begins to question related beliefs ACUTE OR LONG-TERM RESPONSES FOR THIS EMOTION: Growing unsteady—needing to support oneself or sit down Sarcasm and the need to hurt with words Spilling secrets to cause the subject pain Yelling, pointing fingers, moving aggressively, and other signs of anger taking over Lashing out with violence (running at someone, trying to hurt them, etc.) Running away out of an inability to cope (flight) Becoming embittered toward the person, organization, or idea one was once loyal to SIGNS THAT THIS EMOTION IS BEING SUPPRESSED: Denial (shaking one’s head, making excuses, arguing, etc.) Excessive anger at people revealing the deception Clinging to and verbalizing one’s reasons why other people are wrong about this Walking out in anger; refusing to listen MAY ESCALATE TO:Anger,Bitterness,Humiliation,Disgust,Betrayad MAY DE-ESCALATE TO:Skepticism,Disappointment,Neglected,Inadequate,Embarrassment,Shame ASSOCIATED POWER VERBS: Abandon, ache, blame, break bruise, confuse, damage, denounce distress, ditch, forsake, humiliate hurt, injure, insult, paralyze question, quit, rattle, renounce shock, shout, spit, stun stymie, tremble, wound WRITER’S TIP:Make sure to show how a character’s emotions escalate or shift in a tense scene. This causes anticipation for what is to come.