Revisiting: 7 Tips to Writing Anxious Characters

Posted on May 11, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

(Originally posted on April 10, 2020.)

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A few disclaimers here because we’re heading into delicate territory again. Eh, I’m just copying and pasting here.  I am not an expert on mental health by any means.  I read up on it and have my own experiences to work off, which is what fuels these posts.  Also, I always try to add some humor into my posts, especially the 7 Tip Lists.  I find that humor can relieve tension and allow for serious stuff to be listened to and swallowed more easily.  So, let’s get to this one . . . Okay . . . Yup . . . Staring it now . . . I’m really twitchy about this one because I’m not striking close to home. I’m hitting the roof dead center.

  1. Like depression and sadness, be careful using anxiety as a synonym for nervous or mixing the two up.  This can be done and I do it a lot too.  A person can be momentarily anxious and that’s fine.  When it comes to the mental illness, it’s much heavier and long-lasting.  A character with anxiety will see a small problem and have a reaction that one could say is ‘too big’ for it.  For example, maybe they are texting back and forth with a friend, but there is a sudden stop.  An anxious person will fixate on it for hours and imagine that they offended the friend, something bad happened, or any number of horrible ideas.  The possibility of the friend being busy, showering, bathroom, phone losing power, or anything innocent doesn’t click very often.
  2. Anxiety can make for awkward social situations, which may be tempting to play up for laughs.  It’s easier to do it for this than depression because people may focus on the physical side to the anxiety issue.  They may flail while babbling or comically rush out of the room in some fashion.  If this is the tone of the story then it can work since the character isn’t the only one being the source of humor.  If they’re the only ones that it happens to then you may want to rethink things.
  3. Panic attacks are a thing and they aren’t pretty.  Stereotypically, it’s shown as hyperventilating and nearly passing out.  There can be more to it and the severity isn’t always the same.  Chest pains, rabid heartbeat, chills hot flashes, and trembling show how some are visible and some are internal.  If the attack reaches the point where the character has limb spasms because of the shaking or even locking up entirely then it shows the severity.  Another symptom is itching, which I’ve noticed getting used in a few recent shows and animes.  The more anxious the character gets, the more vicious the scratching.
  4. Unlike depression, a character with anxiety can voice a source even if it’s something that isn’t a big problem.  The point is that they are worrying about whatever it is that has set them off.  It could be a clear issue like fighting with a loved one or needing to pay bills.  Yet, it can just as easily be that they have a small pain in their arm and start thinking they’re about to have a heart attack.  Could also be the wrong arm for that or it’s clear to everyone else that it stemmed from earlier physical exertion.  Again, a person with anxiety has a high chance of overreacting.
  5. Anxiety hampers the decision-making process.  Once you go past the level of thinking clearly, you can’t immediately reel it in.  So, these characters may have trouble acting under pressure.  They can lock up or focus on a small part of the problem instead of the overall issue.  Yes, the red button to save the world is in the locked safe and it’s good that you know this, but there’s also a fire-breathing dragon, lasers, and a very angry leprechaun that we have to handle first.  Anyway, these characters may be snapped back to attention in some fashion, but it isn’t easy and you need to have them work up to this.
  6. These characters don’t always have to be hyper and constantly talking when they’re really anxious.  In fact, there’s a higher chance of them turning inward because their thoughts are racing.  They are stuck in the avalanche of paranoid thoughts that they no longer realize what is going on around them.  This is not something that should be played up constantly, but it is a possibility.  Don’t use the anxiety to routinely sideline the character for the majority of scenes.
  7. You will probably be tempted to have other characters attempt to calm the anxiety one down.  Go for it, but decide on which tactics will work.  Slapping and being aggressive probably won’t help.  If anything, it will make the panic attack worse because now they’re upset that they made their friends mad.  Positivity without any meat such as inspirational sayings or mindless cheerleading will fall on deaf ears or irritate.  At least, I think they would, so feel free to ignore that one.  Personally, I think having a character softly and gently coax the anxious one out of the attack is the best thing to do if you want interaction.  Physical contact isn’t necessary, but an acknowledgement of emotions and slowly talking them out of the spiral can help even if it takes a lot of time.
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Happy Mothers Day

Posted on May 10, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

Almost put a different post here.  Oops.  Enjoy the holiday!  (Why are about half of the Mothers Day memes insulting the husbands/fathers?)

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Goal Post: Concerts, Chaos, and Field Trip

Posted on May 9, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

Might as well start on the writing progress, which only happened during last weekend.  I was determined to finish the powers, memories, and guide for the protagonist of Coven of the Gray.  The next step is to design the 13 corrupted Coven members, which will help me figure out the adventure.  Not sure if I’m going for a story told through short stories or chapters.  Short stories might be best with 13 enemies that are found in specific locations instead of roaming.  Though, I think I might have one Coven member be a wanderer that shows up at times.

One thing that caught me by surprise was the memory list.  I made a list of 13 good memories that can be returned and another of 13 bad.  It was easier to come up with traumatic incidents than good ones.  Mostly because I kept feeling like ‘first kiss’, ‘first job’, ‘meeting friends’, etc. paled in comparison to ‘abusive spouse’, ‘judging family’, and ‘near-death experience’.  That’s another reason I stopped after designing the guide.  I was pretty shaken by the idea that good memories are primarily what we expect life to give us while bad memories are upheavals.  So, the latter has more emotional potency than the former even in fiction.

While I was hoping to do some research on the number 13 in psychology, I wasn’t able to do so this week.  I’ll have tomorrow while my son is with his mom, which can help me start on the Coven members.  Not that I didn’t try, but my son had his two spring concerts, which leave 3 more before graduation in 2027.  There were other appointments that took up the other days, so I really spent my brief free time to take walks in the park.  It wasn’t just for Pokemon because I really want to get more physically active after such a sedentary winter.  Caused a lot by that hospital stay, recovery, and the aftermath.  I still have discomfort in the scarred area if the weather is too cold.

Today, we’re having a family dinner for Mother’s Day and my mom’s 80th birthday.  So, my only real goal is to finish laundry before family arrives.  Not a lofty Saturday goal, but writing takes a backseat to the big event.  Although, my son and I are still going out for an hour of a Pokemon event . . . It’s been suggested for reasons.  That and we have to talk about a few things coming up.  Oh, I’ll just through in here that Friday was a wild field trip at work, which is another reason I’m exhausted.

This coming week is going to be equally as chaotic, but there aren’t any concerts.  There’s a big thing on Wednesday that I can’t legally talk about on here.  Not until certain aspects of the situation are solidified.  It’s causing extra stress due to other entities acting out and even doubling down on problematic behavior.  Once Wednesday is over . . . I really don’t know how things will go.  I’ll probably be dead on my feet, but school events prevent me from taking off unless I’m truly sick.  I expect to be dragging myself to next weekend, which has a Bat Mitzvah.  That should be fun.  Decent chance that I can get some writing done.  Be nice if I can finish all of the Coven members, but I’m not going to get greedy given my situation.

I might try to do more September blog posts to clear some time because things can get crazy at any moment here.  That life event (Did I ever say what it was?) is feeling a little volatile.  I’m trying to remain positive, but I’m always scared that a curveball will hit me without warning.  Thinking about it, the stress has been leading to me falling asleep around 9:30 and fighting to stay asleep.  Even while writing this on Friday night, I’m feeling exhausted and drowsy.  Probably why it isn’t exhilarating and full of much positive news.  I’m trying, but I feel like I’m going to be dragging myself through life for a few months.

Goals of the week?

  1. Work on Coven of the Gray villains.
  2. Help son with school and college prep.
  3. LIFE EVENT APPOINTMENT ON WEDNESDAY
  4. Field trip on Tuesday.
  5. Walk and bike to have some exercise.
  6. Curse the rain that keeps showing up when I’m not at work.
  7. Start food shopping for 2 weeks of being in charge of dinners.
  8. September blog posts.
  9. Puzzle time since I’m out of Lego sets.
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What Is Art Therapy?

Posted on May 8, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

Art Therapy– A mental health profession that combines psychology with creative activities such as drawing and painting.  This is done to improve a person’s emotional, mental, and cognitive health.

That’s the basic definition of this field, but we can go further.  I want do do this through clear bullet points though:

  • The purpose of art therapy is for a person to express emotions that they cannot easily explain or reveal.
  • It can also help with facing trauma and grief.
  • Art therapy can help relieve anxiety and depression by granting a sense of control.
  • Pain can be managed by taking attention and focus away from the source.
  • Art therapy has been used for cancer patients, veterans, and patients who are forced to live in isolation.
  • No prior experience or knowledge of the art style is needed.
  • The type of art is typically the visual arts such as drawing, painting, and sculpting.
  • Can increase self-esteem, memory, and mental clarity.
  • Art therapy can help a person learn to recognize and change harmful behaviors.
  • They do have dance, drama, and musical therapies.

That’s all of the stuff I found across the board.  Wasn’t sure about things that I only found on a single site.  If anyone knows more about this then please share in the comments.

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Poetry Day: The Human Dog

Posted on May 7, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

(Here’s the partner to ‘The Human Cat’.  Maybe I have a preference here though.  It’s weird because I’ve never had either as a pet.  Never sure if I’d be able to handle a cat or dog too.  Mostly, I’m not sure if I’d be able to get anything done with such an animal around because I’d give them attention whenever they ask.)

We are the loyal ones
Ready to be by your side
Whenever pain arises
Forgetting our own woes
To help you with your own

We are the helpful ones
Asked only once for aide
Which we quickly give
We feel it is our duty
To assist when we are needed

We are the listening ones
Ready for your story
Whether it be nice or sad
Every word we hear
Though we may not understand

We are the fragile ones
Able to take some barbs
Shrugged off as your bad mood
But once the barbs dig too deep
Our loyalty turns to rage

Be kind to your canine friends
A loyal friend is hard to find
To have one is a gift
That you will miss if pushed away
For a dog’s heart heals slowly

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Revisiting: 7 Tips to Recharging

Posted on May 6, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

(Originally posted on July 28, 2021.)

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The quote really says it all.  I’ve been running myself down repeatedly over the last couple of months . . . years.  The pressure and fatigue build up then become harder to eliminate because you can’t carve out enough time to do it.  The greater the exhaustion, the longer the vacation that you need.  Although, we don’t really do vacations right because those always result in stress.  So, what can we do?

  1. Don’t be afraid to take a mental health day if you need it.  We’re made to feel guilty about this and we worry about the work building up.  So, try to settle assignments the day before you plan on your recovery day to minimize the stress that will greet you at the door.  Make sure not to do work or run around the entire time.  Get some errands done, but take time to rest and replenish your strength.
  2. Low key hobbies like puzzles, reading, painting, and anything else that doesn’t cause you to go running around.  While exercise and sports can give you a boost, it doesn’t hurt to have a few things to do when your body is rough shape.  This prevents you from sleeping the day away, which can throw off your sleep pattern and make you stress over not being productive.
  3. Keep healthy snacks in the room you are more likely to be in.  This reduces the times you go to the kitchen in search of food and grab things that might be too heavy or unhealthy.  Nuts and dried fruit are my personal favorites.  As I said, this doesn’t and shouldn’t stop you entirely, but the snacks help take the edge off.   This means you will grab less from the kitchen too when you go there.
  4. SLEEP!  This is very important and difficult for many people.  Biggest point here is that you can never really make up lost sleep.  If you only get 4 hours one night then you’re not going to sleep 12.  Best to do is take measures to improve your sleep such as weighted blankets, keeping the room comfortable, sleep apnea devices if needed, and making sure you have good pillows.  You won’t regain the lost hours, but you will regain your energy for the future.
  5. If your energy is being drained by thoughts and worries then find somebody to talk to.  It helps to drag such things into the light where they can be analyzed and seen for the sniveling parasites that they are.  You can talk to a therapist if you have the option or maybe you have at least one friend who is always there to listen.  Don’t recommend finding a complete stranger to vent to.  That could be awkward.
  6. Drink water!  Seltzer works too.  Seriously, why do I drink cold water and feel like it’s hitting every cell of my body?
  7. Go outside without technology.  If you bring your phone then only use it as a camera for cool stuff.  No social media posting until you get home.  Just find a place to walk around and be left with your own thoughts.  Parks are great if you’re a suburbanite like me.  Other people have forests and various swaths of nature at their fingertips.  Lucky bastards.
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Guest Post – Esther Chilton- Myths and Magic Book II in the Saffy’s Secret Quest Series

Posted on May 6, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

My thanks go to John, who has kindly agreed to take part in my blog tour. I’ve said before, but without people like John, it’s so hard to get news of…

Guest Post – Esther Chilton- Myths and Magic Book II in the Saffy’s Secret Quest Series
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Teaser Tuesday: No Magic, No Problem

Posted on May 5, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

Cover Art by Jason Pedersen

Continue reading →

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Revisiting: Addiction in Fiction

Posted on May 4, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

(Originally posted on September 28, 2020.)

This might be simplifying up above, but it does come off that way at times.  As I said on Friday, War of Nytefall: Ravenous has a very serious subplot that deals with addiction.  You might be wondering how I could add that into a fantasy action adventure series about vampires.  Well, it wasn’t easy, but I tackled PTSD in Legends of Windemere to some extent, so why not plunge into a sensitive topic this time?  My third series will be more light-hearted . . . I think.  Anyway, I’m going to talk about how I went about adding this into the story.

Over my lifetime, I’ve interacted with recovered addicts and those who I would later learn were current addicts.  I’ve read it from a science and personal story perspective as well as watching videos.  Being born in the 1980’s, I was nearly bombarded with the concept of addiction and how destructive it could be.  In college, I wandered through articles about the psychology around it as well.  One thing that always struck me is that many addicts reach a point where they want to stop, but can’t do it.  It’s when you need friends and family the most, which is an on-going concept in Nytefall.  Many characters get their strength from those around them, which is another reason I thought that this could be a perfect opportunity to tackle the subject.

Another thing I’ve learned is that everyone reacts to addiction stories differently.  It can depend on what the person is addicted to.  Notice that I haven’t given a specific here, but I’m sure people have thought only of drugs and alcohol.  Anyway, people do have more sympathy for some addictions than others.  Others immediately look down on the addict and consider them a worthless character even if they recover.  There is a lot of judgement when it comes to addiction in real life and it carries over into fiction.  Sadly, these judgments are rarely nice or sympathetic.  When somebody doesn’t pull out of their spiral even with help, we can get frustrated and think that they truly don’t want to.  This may be true in some cases, but others are simply that they can’t.  People ignore the psychology behind this, which can include anxiety, depression, self-destruction, and a sense that one is defined entirely by their addiction.  I considered all of this when I tackled this subject in my book.  Can’t say it goes off perfectly, but I’d like to think I made one where you can get the sense that there is more to it than ‘needing a hit’.

Addiction can be triggered by many things.  The desire to fit in is one that we tend to forget and it can be overshadowed by a sense of rebellion.  Peer pressure can be really destructive for those who are already psychologically struggling to find their place.  Keep in mind that these people could have been turned to healthier paths, but they weren’t for one reason or another.  It could be that they were targeted by someone with dark intentions or the healthier groups already ostracized them.  You never know.  This also shows that anxiety and depression can lead one to addiction as well.  It’s the whole dulling of pain and distracting yourself mentality.  You can’t cope with the powerful emotions, so you try to kill them off.  You can end up destroying the positive emotions along with the negative and leaving only the numbness.  Again, this depend on the addiction.  I’m definitely leaning more towards drugs and alcohol here, but others have a similar effect.

Adding addiction into War of Nytefall was a difficult decision and it came about during a rewrite of an outline.  I realized that the character was in so much pain that they couldn’t shrug it off.  They were drawing into themselves, but then had moments where they were incredibly manic.  I gave them an addiction to see if it explained things and it created this agonizing, raw subplot.  Not only watching the person go through the addiction, but those around them trying to help.  Never forget that you have to factor in how people react to the problem.  That was probably the hardest part.  It’s easy to have a character do the physical act of addiction.  Emotions and psychology of them and their loved ones are harder because you need to open yourself to some uncomfortable truths.  Not everyone can understand the mentality.  Not everyone will support that person.  There can be times where things are made worse.  People can start to recover and fall again.  It’s simply how it seems to work.

So, what do you think about addiction in fiction?

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International Wild Koala Day

Posted on May 3, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

(I made a post about koalas on July 7th, 2024.  Since it’s their holiday, I thought it would be better to just repost it instead of doing something new.  Call it lazy or call it recycling.  Your choice.)

The koala is a little, leaf-eating marsupial from Australia, which many people recognize as quickly as the kangaroo.  They are also called koala bears even though they are related to wombats more than bears.  Part of this is because their faces are circular with round ears, big eyes, and fluffy ears like a teddy bear.  I will say that I’ve seen the phrase used much less as an adult than I did as a child, so maybe it’s a kid thing.

Koalas was least as vulnerable until Australia listed them as endangered in 2022.  Their population is between 100,000 and 500,000.  Threats to the koala are the usual suspects due to humans living nearby.  Many get hit by cars or killed by dogs.  Habitat destruction is an issue since they can be very picky eaters even with eucalyptus species.  Climate change is damaging the eucalyptus trees as well, so their only food source is not as plentiful.  Finally, they have a major problem with chlamydia, which causes blindness and infertility.  Populations being pushed into smaller territories makes this disease more likely to spread.

So, what are some fun koala facts?

  1. They have 5 digits on each hand with the front ones have 2 digits opposed to help with climbing.
  2. The hind paws have the 2nd and 3rd digits fused together to act as a grooming claw.
  3. Koalas are nocturnal, but usually sleep 18-20 hours a day.
  4. They sleep a lot because it takes a lot of energy for them to safely digest the toxic eucalyptus leaves, which give them very little nutrition in the first place.
  5. Each koala has a collection of home trees to create their territory.  They are the only ones to visit these trees for food and rest.
  6. Females are fully mature by age 2 and males by age 3 or 4.
  7. Koalas get all of their water from the leaves they eat, but they will drink during droughts or fires.
  8. They have keen senses of smell, which allows them to pick out the best, most nutritious leaves on a tree.
  9. Males have scent glands in the middle of their chests to mark their territory.
  10. Males can live up to 12 years while females live up to 15.
  11. Babies are called joeys and are born blind and without ears, so they find the pouch by touch and smell.
  12. Babies stay in the pouch for 6 months before coming out to ride on their mother’s back.
  13. Koalas can eat 0.5 to 1 kilogram of eucalyptus leaves per night.
  14. Koala brains are very smooth and only make up 0.2% of their body weight.  This is one of the lowest ratios of all mammals.
  15. Their brain is adapted for low-energy living, which is why it doesn’t have as many wrinkles.  Basically, they don’t do complex thinking because they don’t need to.

Now for the pictures and videos everyone enjoys.

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