Emotional Distresser

Not to be confused with destressor, a headmate who helps the system relax.undefined:

An emotional distresser is a headmate who causes other headmates emotional distress. This can either be done on accident or be purposeful, but it's always done with the intent of helping the system or someone outside the system. Emotional distressers will usually unintentionally harm the headmate they're targeting in the process.

This is always done in hopes of protecting the system, or someone outside the system, from something bad happening. What "bad things" can constitute as can vary heavily - from logical or sound reasoning to things that don't seem to make sense outside of their point of view. Possible examples could range from an emotional distresser believing that going to a specific location would harm the system, to them believing walking in a certain way would lead to something bad happening.

An anxiety distresser may cause a fellow headmate to be anxious because they're scared that the headmate may harm their friend if the headmate compliments them. A rage distresser may encourage a fellow headmate to become enraged out of a belief that the way their partner talked to them could lead to their partner harming the system.

History
This term was coined by Dove from the Chowder System on August 28th, 2023, who couldn't find a term that properly encapsulated stars experience with their role.

Related Terms
Emotional distressers are categorized as misguided protectors, as their intent is to protect the system, but fail in doing so and instead harm it.

An emotional distresser might be a misguided prioritizer, a headmate who helps ease the system's stress.

A persecutor-protector is a headmate that lashes out in an attempt to protect the system.

There may be some overlap with cosedpelians.