This questionaire was written for everyone who might have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder but isn’t sure. It has not been tested for reliability or validity. However, it can help you determine your level of stress now and how it compares to before the trauma. If you are a family member or friend, check it out so you can determine how urgently your loved one might need help.

I would like to share this questionaire with anyone who needs it, but especially with our veterans and their families around Veteran’s Day. In the recent past and over the next months many of our brave service women and men will be coming home to a life and a family they hardly know. Many have seen things the rest of us cannot even imagine and we will expect them to readjust. But if history is any indication, about a third of the veterans will have or eventually get PTSD.  Many more veterans will have what I call Post Trauma Stress. PTS is not as severe as PTSD, and is not unusual after what they have experienced, but it must be dealt with as soon as possible.

Use a scale of 1-5 and write the number in front of each question. Number 1 is “not at all.” Number 5 is “very often or very severe.” If most of your answers are 3 or over, you need to get help immediately. If you are thinking about or planning suicide contact your doctor, the VA, mental health center, crisis line, or call 911. Remember, suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

Post Trauma Stress Test

__1. How frequently do you have recurring dreams or memories of the trauma?

__2. How distressing are they to you?

__3. How vividly do you remember the trauma in your memories or dreams?

__4. How often do you have flashbacks where you actually feel you are reliving the trauma event?

__5. How often do you feel distant from family or friends compared to before the trauma?

__6. How often do you feel like crying when you remember or speak about the trauma?

__7. How often do you have trouble falling or staying  asleep compared to before the trauma?

__8. How often do you find yourself avoiding situations that trigger your memories?

__9. How easily are you startled when something unexpected occurs in comparison to before the trauma?

__10. How often to you feel you are unable to function normally in comparison to before the trauma?

__11. How often are you on the lookout for problems or trouble in comparison to before the trauma?

__12. How angry do you feel in comparison to before the trauma?

__13. How often do you have outbursts of anger you did not have before the trauma?

__14. How often are you depressed, anxious, not interested in things you used to enjoy before the trauma?

__15. How often do you have bodily symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, shaking, perspiring and tense mucles that you did not have before the trauma?

__16. How often do you think you may not live long compared to before the trauma?

__17. How often do you think of suicide?

__18. Do you have a plan for suicide? How firm is that plan?

__19. How much time do you spend alone in comparison to before the trauma?

__20. How often are you ill or in pain as compared to before the trauma?

__21. How severely do you think the trauma has effected you?

__22. How often do you feel confused or are unable to concentrate compared to before the trauma?

__23. How often have your symptoms or your experiences been ignored or belittled by others?

__24. How often do you feel numb or have no feelings in comparison to before the trauma?

__25.How often do you use alcohol or other drugs (both illegal and prescription drugs) to change your feelings as compared to before the trauma?

__26. Did you experience trauma as a child such as abuse, accident, etc? If yes, how often?