When you experience trauma, the feelings and emotions don’t go away in the blink of an eye. It can cause lingering emotional and psychological distress that seems like it will never go away. And for some people, witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event can cause a mental health issue that needs proper treatment.

Out of every 100 people, 7 to 8 will experience post-traumatic stress disorder in their lifetime. That means that if you’re experiencing symptoms of the mental health disorder, you’re not alone. How do you know if you need treatment? That’s what we’re here to help you figure out.

Read on to learn about the basics of post-traumatic stress disorder as well as a PTSD test of yes or no questions that can help you determine the likelihood of receiving a diagnosis. 

What is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder, usually referred to as PTSD, is a psychiatric disorder that develops after experiencing or witnessing a dangerous or shocking event. It causes emotional and psychological harm that can interfere with your ability to properly handle daily responsibilities as well as form personal connections with others.

There are many experiences that can be determined as traumatic, even if the same experience doesn’t affect every survivor or witness the same way. But PTSD is especially common for survivors of:

• War 
• Natural disasters
• Accidents
• Sexual assault
• Physical assault

Symptoms of PTSD include:

• Overwhelming feelings of anger, anxiety and sadness
• Self-destructive behavior
• Avoidance of potentially triggering situations, people or places
• Negative thoughts, such as a distorted of self
• Intrusive thoughts, such as nightmares and flashbacks

Accuracy of a PTSD self-assessment 

If you’re experiencing more than one of the symptoms listed above after a traumatic event, then this PTSD test can help you determine how much you align with the criteria for the disorder. It’s important to note that these results should not be taken as a formal diagnosis. If you answer affirmatively to several of the yes or no questions in the test below, you should consult with a mental health provider for further evaluation.

Even if your answers don’t lead to a likelihood of a PTSD diagnosis, you should still consult with a mental health provider if your emotional and psychological distress is persistent or worsening. 

And regardless of whether you get diagnosed with PTSD, your overall mental health should still be a priority.

PTSD self-assessment 

By answering these 12 questions, you can assess your thoughts, feelings and behaviors in relation to those of a person with a PTSD diagnosis. It’s important to be honest with yourself when you answer these questions in order to steer yourself in the right direction.

Based on the number of affirmative answers you give to these yes or no questions, you can get a better idea of how your emotions and behaviors match with the symptoms of PTSD. 

• Have you experienced or witnessed an event that caused serious injury or had a chance of death?

• Have you been bullied or harassed in a way that caused emotional or psychological distress?
  
• Do you have unwanted thoughts about an event that interferes with your concentration or sleep pattern?

• Do you avoid speaking or thinking about a traumatic event?

• Do you avoid going to places or being in situations that remind you of where or how a traumatic event happened?

• Do you have physical reactions when you’re reminded of a traumatic event, such as having trouble breathing or sweating?

• Do you have nightmares or flashbacks of a traumatic event?

• Do you feel easily anxious, nervous or startled?

• Do you feel like you need to be overly aware of your surroundings or “on guard” out of fear of being harmed?

• Do you experience shame or guilt about your involvement in a traumatic event, or the problems surrounding it?

• Do you experience unusual anger or irritability?

• Do you participate in harmful acts that are outside of your normal behavioral patterns, such as unsafe sex or substance use?
  

Lightfully Behavioral Health can help you after you take the PTSD test

If you took the PTSD test, then you are likely struggling with your mental health stemming from a traumatic experience. Regardless of your conclusion about a potential diagnosis after the self-assessment, mental health treatment may still be beneficial for any PTSD symptoms you may be exhibiting.

At Lightfully, we offer four programs that can help you address your PTSD symptoms: residential treatment, Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (vIOP), Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), and Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), also called our Day Treatment Program.

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step to explore a PTSD diagnosis, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.