Character Analysis to Self-Analysis

As a writer, you can discover interesting things about yourself and about the world and existence in general. To be a good writer (which I'm still working on), you have to be observant and thoughtful. Otherwise, you'll just end up with flimsy fluff (like most store-bought bread). Particularly, if you're writing stories about people, fictional or not, you have to know something about people. That's a challenge for us introverts. We know a lot about ourselves, but not so much about how other people think. We have to learn to look outside of ourselves a little bit. Sometimes, it's surprising what we learn about ourselves when we do. It's like a little chick breaking out of the eggshell into the sunlight and finding out that it's yellow compared to other things around it. (I wonder how much color chickens can actually see. That's a question for another day.)

The other day, I decided I needed to examine the psyche one of my characters more closely. I knew she had some issues to deal with, but I wanted a clearer picture so I could write her more like a real person. So for starters, I looked around at some very basic articles about anxiety disorders. (As a student, I prefer academic articles, but I'm not a student of psychology. You have to start somewhere.)

I learned that OCD is a form of anxiety¹. I never knew it, but it makes sense. When you have anxiety, you are afraid of bad things happening in the future. When you have OCD, you perform rituals and routines in order to prevent something bad from happening. As I read about all this, I started to learn something about myself. I don't think I have any serious condition, but I have noticed a few symptoms. Though I am more relaxed than I used to be, I've caught myself worrying excessively or doing little things to prevent or avoid something I fear. I wash my hands probably more than I need to. (I must say, I don't get sick very often. There could be other reasons for that, though.) I often have impulses to double- or triple-check things. I read that resisting these impulses and NOT doing these things unnecessarily can help eliminate the anxiety.

I've been trying that more consciously the last few days. It works. (For me anyway.) It's a burden off the shoulders. For several years now (it makes me feel old to say that) I've been telling myself over and over that worrying usually doesn't do any good. I've seen the debilitating effects of worrying in the lives of people I love – and in my own. It's no fun. Better to take life one step at a time and remember to trust God. I know that for some folks, it's easier said than done, and they might need more outside help. That's ok. We all have challenges that we need help and effort to overcome. Of course, the Savior is the ultimate healer, who offers peace in the middle of hard times. Many times, I have felt it while in tears and on my knees or while reading the holy scriptures, or while even just turning my thoughts to Him instead of dwelling on my worries. Fear is the opposite of faith and hope. Real faith banishes fear. God knows what we need, and when we need it. One day's challenges are enough to take at once (Matthew 6:31-34², 3 Nephi 13:31-34)³. You don't have to take on the burden of all the days of the future, or of things that might not even happen. Christ already took on all our burdens so He would know how to help us (Alma 7:11-12)⁴.

Writing is awesome. :) It can really lead to enlightenment. I highly recommend it.

1 http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/ocd.html#cat20123

2 Matthew 6:31-34

3 3 Nephi 13:31-34

4 Alma 7:11-12