Many people experience stress while writing a memoir, no matter what topics they might be including in their story. But for writers who are working with themes that relate to trauma, or other emotionally-charged material, writing a memoir can be even more difficult.

Mainstream methods for writing a memoir often are not helpful for those who are writing through trauma, because emphasis is placed on speed, productivity, and efficiency while writing. Writing through trauma needs an entirely different kind of creative process, in which the emphasis is on self-compassion and self-care for every step of the journey, no matter how long that journey might take.