Disclaimer
These questionnaires are only for adults and are not designed to be administered to anyone under 18 years of age. By clicking on the quiz below, you acknowledge that the quiz is not a diagnostic instrument and is only to be used if you are 18 years or older. Let’s Talk! Counseling and Services LLC disclaims any liability, loss, or risk incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, from the use and application of these questionnaires.
Avoidance is one of the core symptoms of PTSD. It includes avoiding thoughts, memories, feelings, or reminds of a traumatic experience. It’s normal for people who have experienced a traumatic event to feel uncomfortable when reminded of it, but with PTSD these reminders are so upsetting that you’ll avoid it as much as possible. The severity of your score in this section suggests how much of an impact this avoidance is having on your daily life (i.e. your ability to work, take care of yourself and your family. and handle day-to-day tasks). Avoidance is the part of PTSD that likely has the most to do with how long you remain “stuck” in the traumatized state of PTSD. Avoidance is also a key element in maintaining your body’s sense of panic at even the slightest reminder of the experience.
*Match your score to the results on this scale.
Some people who have experienced a traumatic event do not try to avoid thinking about the experience. Avoidance is a key element of PTSD, and a big factor in why some people get “stuck” in trauma, while others move though it. If you are still significantly affected by a traumatic experience, but you’re not avoiding thoughts or reminders of it, you may be going through the natural grieving process of trauma.
If you believe you are experiencing trauma symptoms and scored lower than expected on this portion of the PTSD test, it’s recommended to discuss your symptoms with a mental health professional. Our therapists are trained in diagnosing trauma-related symptoms, providing trauma therapy designed for your specific symptoms, and supporting you every step of the way. Contact us today for a free consultation, to discuss your symptoms, and take the first step toward a brighter future.
References:
Mattick, R., and C. Clarke. 1998. Development and Validation of Measure of Social Phobia Scrutiny Fear and Social Interaction Anxiety. Behavior Research and Therapy 36:455–70.
Mennin, D. S., Fresco, D. M., & Heimberg, R. G. (1998, November) Determining subtype of social phobia in session: Validation using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Poster presented at the 32nd Annual Meeting of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, Washington DC.
