10 Writing Prompts for Characters With Mental Health Challenges
May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Writing characters who live with mental health challenges can be a great way to explore the complexities of the human experience. However, it's important to approach the topic with care, sensitivity, and awareness of social issues. Mental illness is a sensitive and deeply personal subject that affects many people, and it's essential to represent it thoughtfully and accurately in literature. By avoiding harmful stereotypes and stigmatizing language, creating complex and multifaceted characters, and addressing social issues, you can create a thoughtful and sensitive portrayal of mental health in your writing. Writing about mental health challenges can help break down the stigma surrounding mental illness and create a more inclusive and accepting society.
Here are ten writing prompts about characters who live with mental health challenges and are falling in love:
1. A person with anxiety disorder falls for a spontaneous and adventurous lover, but must confront their own fears and limitations to fully embrace the relationship.
2. A person with depression begins seeking therapy and falls in love with their support group leader, but must navigate the complexities of their mental health journey while also pursuing love.
3. Two people with PTSD fall in love while working as volunteers at a trauma recovery center, but must confront their shared past traumas as they try to build a new future together.
4. A person with borderline personality disorder falls in love with a partner who is steady, calm, and patient, but must confront their own fears of abandonment and impulsiveness to make the relationship work.
5. A person with schizophrenia falls for a partner who sees and accepts them for who they are, but must navigate the challenges of living with a mental illness while also pursuing love.
6. Two people with different mental health challenges fall in love, but must learn to understand and support each other's unique struggles while also building a healthy relationship.
7. A person with ADHD falls for a partner who is organized and detail-oriented, but must find a way to manage their symptoms while also pursuing love and daily responsibilities.
8. A person with autism falls in love with a neurotypical partner, but must navigate the communication differences and societal biases that come with their conditions to build a loving and fulfilling relationship.
9. A person with a history of trauma and dissociation finds love with a partner who sees and respects their boundaries and triggers, but must learn to communicate openly and honestly about their experiences in order to maintain a healthy and sustainable partnership.
10. A person with chronic pain falls for a partner who is supportive and empathetic, but must learn to manage their own pain and discomfort in order to fully participate in the relationship.
Happy writing!
