Writer’s block: masochistic method of creating from core wounds

Method writing isn’t for everyone. It’s not the traditional approach to storytelling that focuses on structure and form. Instead, it encourages an artist to create using their own inner voice, style and life experiences. It can also be an excellent form of therapy.

It’s a type of manic release that results in tears streaming down the cheeks and finger tips that can’t strike the keyboard fast enough. It’s enough to make every emotionally unavailable person cringe. Can you believe some people do this intentionally?

I understood the catharsis of writing from core wounds once I got comfortable with being uncomfortable. My environment growing up wasn’t conducive to learning emotional intelligence or intimacy. I’ve had to develop it through often reckless trial and error.

I had no permission to make sense of what I felt inside and no real awareness of its significance. I repressed anything that didn’t make me feel good by biting my nails and pretending everything was fine. My life was cognitive dissonance. Then I joined the military.

We all compartmentalize to varying degrees. It’s sometimes essential to survive. But avoiding emotions in the long-term is bad for our health. Learning to identify and process them can lead to a higher functioning body and mind, even stimulating creativity.

“Thwarting emotions is not good for mental or physical health. It’s like pressing on the gas and brakes of your car at the same time, creating an internal pressure cooker,” writes author Hilary Jacobs Hendel.

“Symptoms like anxiety and depression, which are on the rise in the U.S., can stem from the way we deal with these underlying, automatic, hard-wired survival emotions, which are biological forces that should not be ignored,” she continued.

Giving myself permission to acknowledge my emotions and feel deeply is what drew me to the arts. It was awkward at first but eventually it’s where I’ve found true freedom and started living more authentically.

Harboring pain, resentment, anger and even positive feelings is holding ourselves captive. We are slaves to our own emotions at times but learning to work with them is incredibly healing and liberating.

You don’t have to be a professional or aspiring writer to use this form of therapy. Journaling is always a productive way to process emotion and monitor mood levels.

There are countless articles, books and tips out there for curing writer’s block but method writing has become a personal favorite during creatively depleted times. I tend to overthink and this gives me more space to write freely.

Writer’s block can stem from an unrealistic standard of perfection in my experience. Another fear is that my writing is too emotionally charged at times and may offend someone, so I hoard vomit drafts in my hard drive and circle back later after I calm down.

I devalue my points of view or technique and break major rules of creative writing in this head space, like editing while working. Yes, there are “rules” but the only guarantee to successful or productive writing is to just “do it.”

I’ve found the more blockages and barriers I remove, the more authentic and unique the results. Plus, life becomes more fun once we learn to own our past and take control of our emotions.

Channeling pain and grief appropriately allows potential for perceived weaknesses to become great strengths. I write intentionally on days I don’t feel well emotionally. This heightened emotion usually flows easier when I meditate for a few minutes before.

I also listen to sad songs, read old love letters or text messages, listen to voicemails from a lost love, reflect on childhood memories or think of someone who broke my heart like any good masochist does. But there’s a method to this madness.

Originally published at https://livingbeyondlabels.net.