REGRET DEFINITION:Sorrow aroused by circumstances beyond one’s ability to control or repair PHYSICAL SIGNALS AND BEHAVIORS: Scrubbing a hand over the face Laying a hand against the breastbone A heavy sigh A downturned mouth Bent posture Crossing the arms over the stomach Heavy arms, the shoulders pulled low Apologizing Trying to reason or explain Eyebrows gathering in A pained expression Hands falling to the sides Staring down at one’s feet Covering the face with the hands Squeezing one’s eyes shut Lifting the hands up and then letting them fall Pinching the bridge of the nose, eyes closed Wincing or grimacing Rubbing the chest, as if one is feeling pained Avoiding the victims Seeking reconciliation; determination to set things right Berating oneself for one’s actions or choices Losing the thread of conversations Hiding behind one’s hair Shaking the head A voice that loses its power Using broken sentences or trailing off while speaking Making atskingnoise or murmuring regret:What a shame. Asking questions about the fallout:How did she take the news? Scrambling to reverse what was said or done Increasing one’s distance from others Trying to fade into the background at social events Putting oneself down INTERNAL SENSATIONS: A knotted belly Insomnia An inability to fill the lungs completely A nervous stomach Loss of appetite Dullness in the chest A feeling of heaviness MENTAL RESPONSES: Feelings of inadequacy Self-loathing The feeling that one deserves pain or judgment Obsession with the person or event associated with the regret Reliving past events Thoughts that turn inward Trying to forget the event A desire to go unnoticed Distractedness Wishing it hadn’t happened ACUTE OR LONG-TERM RESPONSES FOR THIS EMOTION: Not taking physical care of oneself Weight loss Withdrawing from society Dropping out of clubs and groups No longer finding joy in hobbies or favorite pastimes Overcompensation in other relationships Crying, sobbing Self-destructive behaviors Drug and alcohol abuse Unsafe sexual practices Abusive relationships A string of broken relationships Ulcers A lack of intimacy with others An inability to forgive oneself SIGNS THAT THIS EMOTION IS BEING SUPPRESSED: Desperately seeking out new relationships Talking about one’s accomplishments as a way of winning people over Making life-altering decisions (a career change, a move, etc.) as a way of starting over Acting like the life of the party Putting on a happy face MAY ESCALATE TO:Shame,Frustration,Depressed,Self-Pity,Self-Loathing MAY DE-ESCALATE TO:Sadness,Embarrassment ASSOCIATED POWER VERBS: Avert, cry, deny, downplay elude, evade, flinch, hide isolate, minimize, murmur, stray wallow, wander, wince WRITER’S TIP:Watch for possible description crutches. Is the color green used too much? Does a sensory sound (like wind rustling through the trees) happen in multiple scenes? Keep track of these details to avoid overuse.