Writer’s Block Is A Symptom of Unresolved Trauma
Here are some steps you can take to resolve writer's block.
Trauma disrupts memory, focus, and emotional regulation, all of these are crucial for writing.
Actually, trauma doesn’t just disrupt memories—it rewires our entire internal narrative. It reshapes how we see ourselves and the world, turning writer’s block into something far deeper than a simple “lack of inspiration.”
According to Dr. Bessel van der Kolk's groundbreaking work, The Body Keeps the Score, trauma impacts:
- Neurological processing of memory
- Emotional regulation mechanisms
- Self-perception and vulnerability thresholds
When I started writing daily on Medium, I had no idea how much my unresolved trauma was playing into the blocks I faced. I wish someone had told me sooner. Then again, I couldn't talk about it much—most of my energy was spent battling trauma narratives. It was a double-bind: I couldn’t find the solution because I was stuck in the problem.
That’s what trauma does: it strips you of expression and the feeling of connectedness.
Writing With Trauma
I started writing to help me process complex trauma.
When I first started my daily writing journey, I wasn’t entirely sure what I was doing but something deep within me felt an overwhelming urge to express myself in a way others could understand.
I felt like a freaking alien for a very long time. Traveling to find my “tribe" and yet never found “them”.
Writing became a bridge between my inner world and the outside world—a way to be seen and heard even when no one was reading.
This thirst for trying to make myself understood along with my fascination with the creator economy together led me to take the next step —
to become a writer.
More specifically — a content writer.
What I Learned About Writer’s Block
Looking back, my writer’s block wasn’t about the words themselves, the type of content I wanted to create, the efficacy of an idea, or the excitability of a storyline — it was about my unresolved trauma.
Trauma had planted seeds of fear:
- Fear of being vulnerable.
- Fear of being judged.
- Fear of not being good enough.
Narratives about every possible thing that can go wrong arise from those 3 fears: we don’t want to feel unsafe (vulnerable), we don’t really want to be an outcast (being judged by the “tribe”), and we think we don’t deserve love and respect (not good enough).
Poof! No More Writer’s Block?
Writer’s block didn’t go away overnight nor was the process linear, but certain practices helped me make significant progress.
(I am omitting “mindfulness” and “self-care routine” since those are absolute basics for anyone working on themselves.)
Journaling Without Judgment
I started with private, unstructured journaling — wrote down whatever that was going through my mind, no matter how terrible I felt about myself, my thoughts, and/or my feelings.
I wrote freely without worrying about grammar, structure, or audience. Heck, it was in my cheap 50-cent notebook that I purchased from Walmart because I didn’t care for fancy notebooks that only encouraged my inner perfectionist to keep yapping.
This 50-cent notebook gave me the space to explore my emotions and thoughts without any pressure. I wrote as I spoke, I said what I wanted to say.
- Use unstructured, "braindump" writing
- Create a non-judgmental space for expression
- Prioritize emotional release over perfect prose
Build A Daily Writing Habit
Writing daily — even when I was not inspired — was crucial and I wish I had realized this much sooner.
Writing daily—even when uninspired—was transformative. At first, it was excruciating to put words on the page, but over time, the habit took root.
Think about this: If I would've wrote 2 or 3 times a week instead of daily, it would’ve taken me a lot longer to get to where I am today.
Some of my writing sessions are just a sentence or two long while my other writing sessions lasted hours.
Once we develop the habit of writing, everything will become so effortless that you will lose track of time just creating.
Being one with your own creative process is what brings a sense of fulfillment, and trust me, a sense of fulfillment is what survivors missed.
- Start with minimal time commitments (5-10 minutes daily)
- Acknowledge that some days will be more challenging
- Celebrate small victories in your writing process. Every word is a win!
You Can Walk Away
Yup, we can do that!
Sometimes, the best thing to do is walk away. Sitting in front of the page/screen for hours doesn’t always lead to progress.
It's easy to get stuck in our heads.
When I felt too stuck, I’d engage my senses: make tea, take a walk, or cook a simple meal. These sensory grounding exercises helped me reset and return to writing with a clearer mind.
So, next time when you’re feeling blocked, try doing something to engage your senses—splash your face with cold water, hop in the shower, move your body, etc. These small acts can help shift your focus back into your senses and refresh your creativity.
- Practice body-based grounding exercises
- Use sensory experiences to shift mental state
- Recognize writing as a holistic mind-body process
The Right Support Matters
I didn’t truly make progress until I found the right support and the "right support" is not what it seems.
Finding trauma-informed support was one of the hardest parts of my journey. For years, I cycled through therapists, personal development resources, and advice from spiritual communities, but nothing addressed the depth of my experiences.
Trauma is layered and our experiences are ours to interpret.
I'm sad to say that most fail to recognize how deeply complex trauma disrupts self-expression. Most people I seeked help from offered surface-level platitudes and solutions that didn’t resonate; others simply didn’t get it and offered advice that was extremely harmful.
Honestly, I have yet to meet that one person or discover the one method that has all the right answers. Instead, I’ve learned to create my own healing kit—exploring and keeping an open-mind, keeping what helps, letting go of what doesn’t, and piecing together my own path to healing one step at a time.
I'd Love To Hear Your Thoughts!
What methods help you overcome creative blocks?
How has your experience with trauma shaped your relationship with creativity?