Feeling a little stressed or worried is a totally natural part of life. However, when those feelings start to take over and make it hard for you to do everyday things, it may be a good time to consider anxiety. An online anxiety disorder test can be a good starting point to help you understand what’s going on. Let’s break down what these tests are and what you can expect from them. 

What is an online anxiety test?

An online anxiety test is a series of questions that are designed to help you understand if the feelings of anxiety you’re experiencing may be part of a bigger issue. These online tests can be created by mental health professionals and can be based on recognized criteria for anxiety disorders. They can be like a quick check-in to see if you may benefit from talking to someone about how you’re feeling. Here are some reasons why you may consider taking an online anxiety disorder test:

• Self-awareness — Taking an online anxiety disorder test can help you recognize if your symptoms are impacting your daily life. 
• Information gathering — Understanding the types of anxiety disorders can provide you with valuable insights. 
• Decision-making — The results of the online assessment may help you decide if seeking professional help is the right step.
• Stigma reduction — Taking a test can help normalize having conversations about mental health. 
• First step — An online anxiety disorder assessment can be a low-pressure way for you to start exploring your mental health. 

What to expect from an online anxiety disorder test

Online anxiety disorder tests are designed to provide a preliminary assessment of a person’s anxiety levels. There are many different screening tests available for anxiety. Several of these tests can be found online, but a qualified health care professional needs to look at them. Tools for checking anxiety include:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7) — GAD-7 has questions that measure how severe a person’s GAD symptoms are. 
• Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (BFNE) — The BFNE Scale shows how well a person tolerates public judgment and their general social behavior. It helps to evaluate for social phobia and other disorders. 
• Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) — HAM-A was one of the first assessments to test anxiety symptoms, and it’s still used today. It rates psychological and somatic anxiety levels to determine the severity of anxiety. 
• Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) — LSAS is a self-rated scale to assess social anxiety. 
• Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS) — OASIS is a quick and continuous evaluation of a person’s anxiety’s total severity and impairment. It can be used for many anxiety disorders. 
• Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) — HADS is a scale that can be used to evaluate the severity of anxiety or depression. 
• Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) — PHQ-4 is based on the first two questions of the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 to provide a quick and accurate measure of anxiety and depression. 
• Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) — PSWQ is a self-report questionnaire to measure worry in adults. It can also discern GAD from other anxiety disorders. 
• Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) — SPIN can measure the severity of social anxiety disorder. 

Here’s what you can generally expect from an online assessment:

• A lot of questions — An assessment will involve a series of questions so it can provide you with information. These questions may seem similar as you progress through the assessment, but they’re necessary to get a clear picture of what you’re going through. Questions you can expect on an online anxiety disorder may include questions about:
• Your symptoms
• Daily life impact of the symptoms
• Physical symptoms
• Duration and frequency of symptoms
• Different types of anxiety — Some tests may focus on a specific type of anxiety, like social anxiety or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Other online tests may cover a wider range of anxiety symptoms. 
• Scoring and results — After you finish answering the questions, the test will calculate your score. You’ll usually get some information about what your score means and what steps you can take next. 

While an online test can provide valuable insights into your anxiety levels, it’s essential to remember that:

• Online tests aren’t a diagnosis — While these tests can be helpful, they can’t give you a formal diagnosis. Health care providers like a doctor or mental health care professional are the only ones who can do that. 
• Everyone is different — Anxiety affects people in many different ways. What may be a big deal for one person may not be a big deal for someone else. 
• It’s OK to ask for help — If the test suggests you may have anxiety, remember that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. 
• It should be private — Many online tests are confidential, but it’s always a good idea to check the website’s privacy policy. 

If your online anxiety disorder test results suggest you may have anxiety, you should consider taking these next steps:

• Talk to someone you trust.
• Seek professional help.
• Explore self-help resources.

Remember, an online anxiety disorder test can be a great starting point for you to reclaim your mental well-being, but it can’t replace a professional diagnosis. If you’re concerned about your anxiety, consult a qualified health care provider. 

Lightfully can help you with the next step after your online anxiety disorder assessment

Taking an online anxiety disorder test can be a helpful first step in understanding your mental health. If your results suggest that anxiety may be impacting your life, Lightfully Behavioral Health is here to help. Our deeply compassionate experts offer personalized treatment plans using evidence-based techniques to provide you with whole-person-centered care. We will work with you to create a path toward improved overall well-being. 

Change is possible. When you’re ready, contact us. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.