At times, individuals undergo experiences that are notably frightening, horrific, or traumatic. Examples include: a severe accident or fire, physical or sexual assault, physical or emotional abuse, natural disasters like an earthquake, war, terrorism, witnessing someone’s death by homicide or suicide, etc…
If any of those situations apply to you, then we invite you to take this quick test to gauge “if” and “how” it has impacted you psychologically. Please keep in mind that this test is only for information purposes, as only a mental healthcare professional can make a diagnosis.
For each question focus on the past month, and answer YES or NO
- had nightmares about the event(s) or thought about the event(s) when you did not want to?
- tried hard not to think about the event(s) or went out of your way to avoid situations that reminded you of the event(s)
- been constantly on guard, watchful, or easily startled?
- felt numb or detached from people, activities, or your surroundings?
- felt guilty or unable to stop blaming yourself or others for the event(s) or any problems the event(s) may have caused?
Scoring:
If you answered “yes” to most of the questions, then you might have developed some anxiety following the trauma. Please consult a mental healthcare specialist for more help.
source
Prins, A., Bovin, M. J., Kimerling, R., Kaloupek, D. G., Marx, B. P., Pless Kaiser, A., & Schnurr, P. P. (2015). The Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5). [Measurement instrument].
For more information, please visit https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/assessment/screens/pc-ptsd.asp