Trauma Can Make It Hard to Get Things Done

If you’re feeling like you have a motivation problem and are struggling to start simple tasks or staying focused, it might not be a problem with discipline.

Trauma—big T, or even small t trauma—can overwhelm the brain and make even simple to-do tasks feel impossible.

Let’s explore how trauma affects motivation and why it’s not a character flaw, but an issue with your brain and body.

Trauma’s Surprising Impact On Your Productivity?

If you’re staring at your simple todo list and just can’t get started, you’re not alone.

Many individuals feel guilt or frustration about their lack of motivation without realizing it might be connected to trauma.

What Is Trauma and How Does It Affect Motivation?

Trauma doesn’t always come from one big event.

It can build up over time without you even knowing—it might be emotional neglect or feeling unsafe or stressed for long periods. This is sometimes called small t trauma.

Big T trauma—things like abuse, violence, or betrayal—also disrupts your brain and body’s ability to act.

The Science Behind Trauma and Low Motivation

Your brain is designed to protect you.

When it’s overwhelmed by trauma, it shifts from planning and thinking to surviving.

Your prefrontal cortex, the part that helps you stay organized and goal-focused, shuts down and your nervous system goes into fight, flight, freeze, or fawn.

Why Do You Feel Stuck?

If you’re stuck in freeze survival mode, your brain is so overwhelmed, everything feels too much.

You might just lay in bed or sit around for hours, unable to figure out where to start.

I know this doesn’t sound like you, you’re a high-functioning individual and you’re not sure what’s happening.

You’re not being lazy—your system is overloaded.

Here’s the thing.

When our house is on fire, it’s not the right time to vacuum and do the dishes.

This is why, when you’re in survival mode and your brain and body are on fire (and not in a good way), you can’t get anything done, even the small stuff.

Why You Struggle with Burnout and Shutdown

Motivation can also crash when you’re burned out from constantly pushing through.

People with trauma often ignore their limits to avoid disappointing others or being rejected.

Lots of my clients were crushing it at work but felt like they were burning out and had to leave their jobs.

When they finally took time off work, their bodies were in shutdown mode focused on survival and were having issues with getting simple things done.

Struggling with Motivation?

The path forward isn’t about forcing yourself to try harder.

It’s about calming your brain and body so the thinking part of your brain can come back online.

The first step is acknowledging that you really are a high-performing individual, who may be experiencing overwhelm.

This just might be a trauma problem.

How to Rebuild Motivation

If you’re struggling to do basic tasks, there’s nothing wrong with you.

Your brain and body are in survival mode.

Your nervous system is asking for safety, not more pressure.

Give yourself that space and find something that can help your brain feel calm and safe so you can access the logical, rational, get sh!t done part of the brain.

The problem is that you’re probably going to need help getting out of the burning building.

Let’s connect.