Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Test
I've gone through a traumatic experience that involved the risk of death, severe injury, or sexual assault.
Unwanted and upsetting memories of a traumatic incident keep coming back to me without warning.
I saw a traumatic event happen to another person.
I often have nightmares that are connected to a traumatic experience.
I've been repeatedly exposed to graphic details of a traumatic event, which has been overwhelming.
I react strongly to things that trigger memories of a traumatic event.
I found out that a traumatic event happened to someone close to me, like a family member or friend.
I experience flashbacks where it feels like the traumatic event is happening all over again.
I steer clear of anything that reminds me of a traumatic event, including people, places, activities, or thoughts.
I hold negative beliefs, such as thinking that no one is trustworthy or that the world is entirely unsafe.
I mostly feel negative emotions, such as horror, anger, guilt, or shame.
I feel disconnected or distant from other people.
I consistently struggle to feel positive emotions, like happiness or contentment.
I have outbursts of anger with little or no reason.
I take part in reckless or self-destructive actions.
I'm constantly on high alert and watchful for danger.
I get startled very easily by sudden noises or movements.
I have trouble focusing or concentrating on tasks.
I find it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep through the night.
A traumatic event has seriously affected my ability to handle everyday responsibilities and activities.
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What You Should Know
- If you have PTSD, you may have symptoms like emotional pain, intrusive memories, flashbacks, insomnia, avoidance, and hypervigilance that last for at least a month after a traumatic event.
- Not everyone who goes through trauma gets PTSD. The NIMH says that 3.6 percent of people in the U.S. have PTSD, even though half of the U.S. population has been through at least one traumatic event in their lives.
- There are many ways to help people with PTSD get better. Some of these are therapy and medication, like cognitive behavioural therapy, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, exposure therapy, and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing, to name a few.
- Complex PTSD refers to symptoms that develop following persistent and repeated trauma, the consequences of which can accumulate over time, such as child abuse or domestic violence. The ICD-11 recognises the term, but the DSM-5 does not.
- Post-traumatic growth is when some people grow and change for the better after a traumatic event. This doesn't mean that someone isn't suffering; it means that suffering and growth can happen at the same time. For example, someone might learn to appreciate life more or make stronger relationships.
Change Now
Learn how to deal with stress. Mindfulness, deep breathing, journaling, and getting support from others can all help you deal with anxiety after a traumatic event.
Get into a healthy routine. After a traumatic event, working out, eating well, getting enough sleep, and staying away from drugs and alcohol can all help you heal.
Get help: Therapists who know about trauma can help people recover from traumatic events.
