History Main / PersonalHorror

* In ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Zootopia}}]]'', Judy's self-esteem takes a big hit when [[spoiler:[[InnocentBigot her own unconscious prejudices]] cause her to inadvertently start a [[FantasticRacism speciesist panic against predators]] and betray Nick's trust, leading to their PlotMandatedFriendshipFailure. Her guilt over what happens is so strong that she resigns from the ZPD for a while because she feels she betrayed her own ideals]].

Can lead to HeelFaceTurn or the character becoming TheAtoner. Sometimes results in BadDreams or the character crossing the DespairEventHorizon. Some characters have an overlap with YouAreWhatYouHate. Often results in HeroicBSOD, sometimes after running HeroicSafeMode.

** Spoilers for the WesternAnimation/StevenUniverseFuture: [[spoiler: This ''entire followup series'' is this for Steven. [[RealityEnsues Turns out that]] [[WhatDoWeDoNow saving the universe has left him]] [[DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife without any life-changing goals to pursue]] and instead created a vacuum for all the pent-up [[ShellShockedVeteran trauma]] and [[SinsOfTheFather anger at his mother's irresponsibility]] to surface. This isn't helped by [[PleaseDontLeaveMe all his friends and family members moving on with their lives]], or sudden bouts of serious PowerIncontenince ([[IneffectualLoner both of which he conceals from his family, despite their repeated attempts to offer help and support]]). This eventually culminates in Steven ''[[AccidentalMurder accidentally shattering one gem]]'', then ''[[MomentOfWeakness nearly shattering another]]''. By the penultimate episode, his inability to live up to his ([[DramaticIrony mistaken]]) belief that his friends expect him to be always and only an AllLovingHero causes him to cross the DespairEvenHorizon, [[SuperpowerMeltdown triggering]] [[PainfulTransformation his corruption]] into a Pink {{Kaiju}}.]]

* In ''Disney/{{Frozen}}'' Elsa freezes her sister Anna while trying to drive her away to protect her.

* In ''Disney/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'' Quasimodo inadvertently [[spoiler:leads Frollo to The Court of Miracles when he goes there to warn everyone that Frollo is coming.]]
* In ''Disney/BrotherBear'' Kenai is first transformed into a bear. Then he finds out that the bear he killed earlier [[spoiler:was Koda's mother.]]

* Several characters in ''VideoGame/PokemonSuperMysteryDungeon'' end up with this trope. [[spoiler:Nuzleaf, Yveletal and Beheeyem [[BrainwashedAndCrazy are all controlled by the Dark Matter]] to turn [[TakenForGranite everyone into stone]] and go into self-imposed exile after breaking free and helping to defeat Dark Matter.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' does this to several of the heroes in the episode "Only A Dream". Superman's nightmare has him dealing with PowerIncontinence. His heat vision kills Lois Lane and he accidentally breaks Jimmy Olsen's back when attempting to give him a hug. Meanwhile, Green Lantern is dreaming about losing his identity to the ring to the point where he becomes transparent, and the Flash dreams of being unable to turn off his SuperSpeed} and being trapped in a world where everything else is standing still.

* [[PersonalHorror/BabylonFive Babylon 5]]

[[folder:Film - Animation]]

[[folder:Film - Live Action]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* In the ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' episode [[Recap/StevenUniverseS4E4MindfulEducation Mindful Education]] Steven and Connie are both dealing with this. Connie from attacking a kid who bumped her out of reflex and the All-Loving Hero Steven from being unable to save Jasper, poofing Bismuth and sending Eyeball out of his bubble when they were lost in space.
* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverseTheMovie'' gives us [[spoiler: Spinel's HeelRealization. She was literally made to be Pink Diamond's friend. She enjoyed being Steven's friend. And then she reactivated the injector that would kill all organic life on Earth when she thought he was going to use the rejuvenator on her.]]

This trope is when a painful betrayal of one's self image, self-loathing, internal conflict, personal failing/flaw or guilt is PlayedForDrama. It can be [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone because of what someone did]], [[AccompliceByInaction didn't do]], [[IShouldHaveBeenBetter tried and failed to do]] or they were just unlucky and got caught up in a bad situation. The key part of this trope is that something goes against the characters [[CodeOfHonor personal moral code]], leading to the alienation of self.

Because this trope is [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin personal]] examples will be of a different kind for different characters. When editing, keep in mind to explain why an example is this trope for that character.

Compare PrimalFear, DeathOfPersonality and CessationOfExistence.

** [[BrainwashedAndCrazy Kohaku]] realizing what he had done.

* Elise in ''Film/Insidious'' discovers that despite her life's goal being to help people who are afflicted with supernatural entities, she [[spoiler:unknowingly let a woman in her house die as a teenager because she believed her to be a spirit and didn't save her from being murdered by her father.]]

* In the ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' episode Recap/StevenUniverseS4E4MindfulEducation Steven and Connie are both dealing with this. Connie from attacking a kid who bumped her out of reflex and the All-Loving Hero Steven from being unable to save Jasper, poofing Bismuth and sending Eyeball out of his bubble when they were lost in space.

* BecameTheirOwnAntiThesis: You became what you used to hate.

* ColdEquation: Almost out of supplies? [[SarcasmMode Have fun]] [[SadisticChoice deciding who gets to live.]]

Because this trope is [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin personal]] examples will be of different kind for different characters. When editing, keep in mind to explain why an example is this trope for that character.

* MomentOfWeakness: A temporary lapse in judgement causes you to make a mistake with disastrous consequences.

* In ''Film/FantasticBeastsTheCrimesOfGrindelwald'' Leta Lestrange is dealing with this after [[spoiler:swapping her brother for a baby that wasn't crying so she could get some sleep. The ship sunk directly afterwards and her brother died.]]

* In ''Series/GameOfThrones'' episode Hardhome Jon Snow and the rest of the Night Watch and surviving Wildlings can only watch as the army of the dead grows by the almost 100,000 Wildlings they went to save.

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' does this to several of the heroes in the episode "Only A Dream". Superman's nightmare has him dealing with PowerIncontinence. His heat vision kills Lois Lane and he accidentally breaks Jimmy Olsen's back when attempting to give him a hug. Meanwhile Green Lantern is dreaming about losing his identity to the ring to the point where he becomes transparent, and the Flash dreams of being unable to turn off his SuperSpeed} and being trapped in a world where everything else is standing still.

* SadisticChoice: If forced to choose between different things that betray your sense of self. Especially if [[TakeAThirdOption taking a third option]] is not available.

* DeadAllAlong: You find out that you or someone else was DeadAllAlong.
* ForcedIntoEvil: You were force to do something evil.

* BrainwashedAndCrazy: Can lead to this when you snap out of it.

* ILetGwenStacyDie

* MomentOfWeakness: A temporary moment that can lead to this
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: You feel this way because of something you did.
* MyGreatestFailure: Can lead to this.

Related to PsychologicalHorror. Very much TruthInTelevision, but please remember the RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment if adding examples. ''Not'' related to IKnowWhatYouFear or AuthorPhobia.

* ColdEquation: Almost out of supplies? [[SarcasmMode Have fun deciding who gets to live.]]