Free C-PTSD & Trauma Test [From a Psychologist]

Trauma: just that word can make us tense up or even dissociate.Whether it's lingering effects from past turmoil or a recent life shakeup, exploring our trauma history can feel intimidating and vulnerable. But here's the thing: addressing trauma head-on is often the path to growing past those deep, sticky wounds.

So let’s take a deep breath ...we’ve got this.

As a licensed clinical psychologist, I'm passionate about supporting people in processing trauma and creating a renewed meaning and purpose.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through some of the common symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including complex PTSD. Our quiz will help you understand whether your symptoms indicate that you might benefit from trauma treatment, and provide suggestions for getting support to find relief from trauma symptoms. We'll go step-by-step so you can show up calm, grounded, and ready to work through your trauma.

Understanding trauma: The basics

When we think of trauma, our minds often go to big explosive events: combat, assault, deadly accidents. But trauma comes in many forms, both sudden and slow-releasing. It can stem from a single gut-punch moment or the accumulative stressors of smaller-scale (but still deeply painful) traumatic events.

Regardless of its origin, the wounds run deep.

Acute trauma describes those single, shocking experiences that leave us reeling: a violent attack, natural disaster, or tragic loss. Chronic (repeated) trauma refers to continuous experiences of abuse, neglect, or violence. It might involve bullying, ongoing emotional abuse from a parent, or witnessing intimate partner violence.

The effects of trauma can be wide-ranging, affecting a person's mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Mentally, trauma can lead to anxiety, depression, flashbacks, nightmares, and difficulty concentrating. Emotionally, it can trigger feelings of fear, shame, anger, isolation, and distrust. Physically, trauma can manifest as sleep disruptions chronic pain, digestive issues, and a compromised immune system.

One unique presentation of trauma worth noting is complex PTSD (cPTSD). This presentation often develops from repeated or prolonged exposure to traumatic events, particularly traumatizing events that occur during childhood. cPTSD shares some symptoms with PTSD, but it also comes with difficulty regulating emotions, a negative sense of self, and challenges in relationships.

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Am I traumatized? Quiz to help you find out ↓

It's completely valid to want to better understand whether you are experiencing PTSD symptoms, but before we sift through our quiz ….

it's important to note that an acute or CPTSD quiz (like this one) can't diagnose mental health conditions. Only a licensed mental health professional can provide a proper diagnosis. With that being said, quizzes are useful tools for self-reflection.

So grab a cup of tea, wrap yourself in a cozy blanket, or snuggle with your pet. Reflecting on your (potential) trauma symptoms can be overwhelming, but it's an important starting point to ultimately foster healing and create a life worth living.

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FAQs about trauma & complex PTSD

What qualifies as trauma?

What "counts" as trauma? On the surface, we tend to think of horrific events, like a car crash or sexual assault. These absolutely "count" as traumatic events, but it's important to know that many experiences can constitute as traumatic. 

It stems from any experience that overwhelms our ability to cope, sparking legitimate fear or powerlessness. This could be an acute crisis like an accident or loss. Or the culmination of accumulated stressors like poverty, discrimination, or abuse over time.

The unifying thread is trauma leaves lingering imprints that affect our daily lives and sense of self: relationship troubles, anxiety, addiction issues, and other emotional challenges. While this trauma quiz hits on the main PTSD symptoms, it's crucial to recognize trauma's subtle expressions, too.

If an experience shakes your core identity or existential view, it may qualify as a traumatic imprint worth exploring.

Can I have trauma without knowing?

The short answer: absolutely.

Trauma can be deceptive like that. Sometimes our minds expertly bury troubling experiences and emotions as a coping mechanism. Other times, we consciously minimize or rationalize away the severity of what happened: a defense to preserve our view of the world as safe. Maybe the trauma occurred so early that we coded it as "normal." Or maybe we're high-functioning despite churning inner turmoil under the surface.

The signs of unprocessed trauma can be incredibly subtle until they eventually demand attention through anxiety, destructive patterns, and existential angst. Getting curious about lingering "stuckness" or disconnect is key to uncovering trauma's hidden impacts.

How is post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosed?

Unfortunately, there isn’t a simple blood test or checklist for trauma's invisible scars. The diagnostic process starts with a thorough psychological evaluation by a mental health professional. We'll ask about your experiences, symptoms, and how they're impacting your daily life and sense of self.

From there, we use our training, expertise, and professional experience to understand whether your symptoms match the trauma symptoms outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

But here's the thing: a diagnosis is just a label, not the whole story. The better question is: what are your specific trauma-related challenges and how can we start resolving them? A PTSD diagnosis simply opens the door to getting the personalized care and healing you deserve.

What can complex PTSD be mistaken for?

Since complex PTSD isn't actually an "official" diagnosis (at least, not yet), it can often get mistaken for other mental health conditions.

On the surface, the persistent unhappiness, emotional dysregulation, and self-perception issues can get mislabeled as depression, bipolar disorder, or borderline personality disorder. The hypervigilance and avoidance symptoms may get chalked up to generalized anxiety. And the disconnection from self and relationships could mistakenly seem like dissociative identity disorder.

It's a messy tangle of protective responses stemming from repetitive, inescapable trauma—usually since childhood. Unpacking cPTSD's intricate origins and manifestations is crucial to getting an accurate assessment and targeted care. No more letting it hide behind misleading masks.

Get the care you need to support your healing process.

Book with our Trauma Therapists

You've taken the first courageous step by exploring what trauma truly is and how it manifests. But the journey to healing goes beyond definitions—it requires compassionate self-inquiry and professional support. And you don't have to go it alone. Trauma-informed therapists can provide that safe space to untangle the roots with care and intention.

So let this be an invitation: prioritize your wholeness. Our team at Authentically Living Psychological Services provides holistic, existentially-focused PTSD treatment to people in over 40 states across the US.

Jaclyn Paradise, our trauma clinician, is now accepting new clients! Book your discovery call with her here.

Though the path may feel daunting, you have the power to reauthor your life's narrative from one of survival to thriving. Take that first step - your liberated self is waiting.

Request your free consultation