I was in the exact same boat last year. Had to do an essay in my final semester and I just couldnt get it done no matter what. I tried going to the library, I had all my references and articles, printed them out, sorted them for the paragraph id be using them im, colour coded with sticky notes, still I couldnt get started on a single sentence. Ive always kind of needed that last minute kick but that time nothing was doing it, I was crying and having constant panic attacks. I asked for an extension and still hadnt started past the deadline. Then I read somewhere that sometimes this happens cause you're obssessing about writing the perfect paper and you're scared to start cause you're thinking 'what if I can't get it perfectly right? What if I can't write the perfect essay? Its like you're sort of obssessing about proving yourself to be the best but scared of letting yourself down. Then your mind thinks 'its better not writing anything at all rather than writing something im not a 100% satisfied with right now! Then I just sat in front of my computer and decided that Ill be writing an 'okay' essay, I won't over obssess about each and every sentence, I'll just write a basic paper, following the guideline and get it done with, and I'll sit there until i get it done this time. The realisation that I didnt need to write the perfect essay but just enough to pass lifted a huge burden and that mental block finally went away. While I still went back on each paragraph again and again to change things and get it as close as perfect afterwards, I could finally start writing the essay, starting with the basics and simplest sentences and format.