Do I Have PTSD?
Assess trauma symptoms across 4 clinical dimensions with this confidential screening tool. Based on the PCL-5 framework used by clinicians worldwide.
Take the Free QuizIf you are in crisis right now: Please call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7. You can also text HOME to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line. You do not have to go through this alone.
🔬 Why Take This PTSD Screening Quiz?
Living with the aftermath of a traumatic experience can feel isolating, confusing, and overwhelming. You may be wondering whether what you are going through is a normal stress response or something more. You may be experiencing symptoms that do not make sense to you, such as nightmares about events that happened years ago, an exaggerated startle response to ordinary sounds, emotional numbness in situations where you used to feel deeply, or a persistent sense that the world is no longer safe.
This free PTSD screening quiz is designed to help you assess whether your symptoms may align with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. It includes 20 questions informed by the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), one of the most widely used and validated PTSD screening tools in clinical psychology. The quiz assesses symptoms across all four clinical dimensions of PTSD: intrusion symptoms, avoidance, negative changes in thoughts and mood, and changes in arousal and reactivity.
Who is this quiz for? This screening is for anyone who has experienced a traumatic event and is wondering whether their current symptoms may be related to that experience. Trauma can include single events such as accidents, assaults, or natural disasters, as well as prolonged experiences such as childhood abuse, domestic violence, combat exposure, or living through a pandemic. There is no hierarchy of trauma. If an experience overwhelmed your ability to cope, it was traumatic for you, and that is what matters.
What will you learn? After completing the quiz, you will receive an instant assessment of your symptom severity across each of the four PTSD dimensions, along with an overall screening result. Your results include specific information about what your symptoms may mean and clear recommendations for next steps.
How it works: 20 questions, 2-3 minutes, instant results. Everything is calculated in your browser. Nothing is stored, transmitted, or shared with anyone. Your responses are completely private and confidential.
This quiz was developed by licensed therapists at South Denver Therapy who specialize in EMDR therapy and trauma treatment.
⚙️ How It Works
Answer 20 Questions
Assess your symptoms across intrusion, avoidance, mood changes, and arousal.
Get Instant Results
See your symptom severity across all four PTSD clinical dimensions.
Know Your Next Steps
Receive clear guidance on what your results mean and how to move forward.
Do I Have PTSD?
A free, confidential screening inspired by the PCL-5 framework. Assess your symptoms across 4 clinical dimensions with instant results.
🔑 Key Takeaways
- PTSD can develop from any event that overwhelms your ability to cope
- Symptoms often appear weeks or months after the traumatic event
- Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD
- Evidence-based treatments like EMDR and CPT are highly effective
- Avoidance of triggers can maintain and worsen PTSD symptoms over time
🔎 Understanding PTSD: What Trauma Does to the Brain and Body
What Is PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. It is not a sign of weakness, a character flaw, or a failure to cope. PTSD is a neurobiological response, meaning it involves measurable changes in brain structure and function that affect how you process memories, regulate emotions, and respond to perceived threats.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) defines PTSD through four clusters of symptoms that persist for more than one month after the traumatic event:
Intrusion symptoms include unwanted, distressing memories of the trauma, nightmares, flashbacks where you feel like the event is happening again, and intense emotional or physical reactions to trauma reminders. These are not simply unpleasant memories. During a flashback, the brain's threat-detection system activates as if the danger is present and immediate, even though the event may have occurred years ago.
Avoidance involves persistent efforts to avoid thoughts, feelings, conversations, people, places, or situations that remind you of the traumatic event. This avoidance is not simply a preference for comfort. It is a protective mechanism driven by the brain's attempt to prevent re-experiencing the overwhelming distress associated with the trauma. While avoidance provides short-term relief, it prevents the natural processing that allows trauma memories to lose their emotional intensity over time.
Negative changes in thoughts and mood can include persistent negative beliefs about yourself or the world ("I am broken," "No one can be trusted"), distorted blame of yourself or others for the trauma, persistent negative emotional states such as fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame, diminished interest in activities you once enjoyed, feeling detached from other people, and difficulty experiencing positive emotions. These changes represent a shift in how you see yourself, others, and the world as a result of the traumatic experience.
Changes in arousal and reactivity include being easily startled, feeling constantly on edge or hypervigilant, difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbances, irritability or angry outbursts, and reckless or self-destructive behavior. This cluster reflects a nervous system that remains locked in a state of high alert, constantly scanning for danger even in objectively safe environments.
The PCL-5 (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5) assesses symptoms across four clusters: intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking/mood, and hyperarousal. A score of 31-33 or above suggests clinically significant PTSD. Learn more from NIMH.
How Common Is PTSD?
PTSD is more common than many people realize. According to the National Center for PTSD, approximately 6% of the U.S. population will experience PTSD at some point in their lives. At any given time, about 5% of adults in the United States are living with PTSD. Among populations exposed to higher levels of trauma, the rates are significantly higher: an estimated 11-20% of veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan develop PTSD, and rates among survivors of sexual assault can reach 50% or higher.
However, these statistics only capture those who meet the full diagnostic criteria. Many more people experience clinically significant trauma symptoms that cause real distress and impairment without meeting the technical threshold for a PTSD diagnosis. These individuals also benefit from trauma-focused treatment.
PTSD can result from any event that overwhelms your coping capacity — not just combat or assault. Medical emergencies, car accidents, childhood neglect, and witnessing violence can all cause PTSD. Your response is valid regardless of how "serious" the event seems.
What Causes PTSD?
PTSD develops when a traumatic experience overwhelms the brain's normal memory processing system. Under typical conditions, the brain processes experiences from short-term memory into long-term memory, integrating them with existing knowledge and context. During trauma, the extreme activation of the brain's fear response, centered in the amygdala, disrupts this normal processing. The trauma memory gets stored in a fragmented, unprocessed state, retaining the intense sensory and emotional qualities of the original experience.
This is why trauma memories often feel qualitatively different from normal memories. They can be triggered by sensory cues, such as specific sounds, smells, or visual patterns, and when triggered, they re-activate with an immediacy and intensity that feels as if the event is happening right now rather than in the past.
Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD. Risk factors include the severity and duration of the trauma, proximity to the event, prior trauma history, pre-existing mental health conditions, lack of social support following the event, and genetic factors that influence how the nervous system responds to stress. Protective factors include strong social support, prior experience with effective coping, and access to early intervention following the traumatic event.
Avoidance is one of the most common PTSD symptoms and also one of the most damaging. While avoiding triggers provides short-term relief, it maintains and worsens PTSD over time by preventing your brain from processing the trauma.
Complex PTSD
While not yet a separate diagnosis in the DSM-5, Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) is increasingly recognized by clinicians and researchers. C-PTSD develops in response to prolonged, repeated trauma, particularly when the trauma occurs during childhood or in situations where escape is difficult or impossible, such as ongoing domestic violence or captivity. In addition to the core PTSD symptoms, C-PTSD involves difficulties with emotional regulation, persistent negative self-concept, and disturbances in relationships. Many people who do not identify a single traumatic event but experienced chronic adverse conditions find that C-PTSD more accurately describes their experience.
💬 How PTSD Affects Your Relationships and Daily Life
The Relational Impact of Trauma
PTSD does not only affect the person who experienced the trauma. It ripples outward into every significant relationship. Research published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress has consistently found that PTSD is associated with lower relationship satisfaction, higher rates of relationship conflict, and increased risk of relationship dissolution.
The symptoms of PTSD create specific relational challenges. Emotional numbing and detachment can make intimate connection feel impossible. Hypervigilance and irritability can lead to frequent conflict over seemingly minor issues. Avoidance of situations, places, or activities can restrict shared experiences and create isolation for both partners. Flashbacks and nightmares can be frightening and confusing for partners who witness them.
Communication Under the Weight of Trauma
Trauma often disrupts the ability to communicate effectively about emotional experiences. People with PTSD may struggle to articulate what they are feeling, either because the emotions are overwhelming or because emotional numbing makes it difficult to access feelings at all. They may withdraw during conversations that feel emotionally threatening. They may react with disproportionate intensity to perceived criticism or conflict, because the nervous system interprets these interactions through the lens of past danger.
Partners of people with PTSD often describe feeling shut out, confused by emotional reactions that seem disconnected from the present situation, and uncertain about how to help without making things worse. This communication gap can create a painful cycle where both partners feel misunderstood and alone.
Impact on Parenting
Parents with PTSD face particular challenges. The emotional demands of parenting can be especially taxing when your own emotional resources are depleted. Hypervigilance may manifest as overprotectiveness. Emotional numbing can interfere with the warmth and responsiveness that children need. Irritability can lead to harsher parenting than intended. Research has also documented the phenomenon of intergenerational trauma, where children of parents with PTSD develop their own anxiety, behavioral problems, or trauma responses, even without directly experiencing trauma themselves.
Daily Functioning
PTSD affects concentration, memory, decision-making, and the ability to manage daily responsibilities. Many people with PTSD describe difficulty sustaining attention at work, avoiding places or activities that most people take for granted, chronic fatigue from the energy required to maintain hypervigilance, and a pervasive sense that they are merely surviving rather than living. The cumulative effect is often a life that has become progressively smaller and more restricted as avoidance patterns expand over time.
🛡️ When to Seek Professional Help for PTSD
You Do Not Have to Wait Until It Gets Worse
One of the most important things to understand about PTSD is that it rarely resolves on its own. Without treatment, avoidance patterns tend to expand, emotional numbing can deepen, and the overall impact on your life often increases over time. Early intervention leads to better outcomes, but it is never too late to seek help, even if the traumatic event occurred decades ago. Seek professional support if:
- Your symptoms have persisted for more than one month after the traumatic event
- You are avoiding people, places, or situations that remind you of the trauma, and this avoidance is limiting your life
- You are experiencing intrusive memories, nightmares, or flashbacks that cause significant distress
- Your relationships are being affected by emotional numbing, irritability, or difficulty with trust and intimacy
- You are using alcohol, drugs, or other substances to manage your symptoms
- You are having difficulty functioning at work, at home, or in daily life
- You are experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide -- if so, please reach out now by calling or texting 988
What Trauma Therapy Looks Like
Effective, evidence-based treatments for PTSD are well-established and have strong research support. The most effective approaches include:
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is one of the most researched and effective treatments for PTSD. EMDR therapy works by helping the brain reprocess traumatic memories so they lose their intense emotional charge and can be integrated as normal memories. It does not require detailed verbal recounting of the trauma, which makes it a preferred option for many trauma survivors. EMDR is recommended as a first-line treatment for PTSD by the World Health Organization, the American Psychological Association, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) helps you examine and restructure the unhelpful beliefs that developed as a result of the trauma, such as "It was my fault" or "The world is completely dangerous." CPT typically involves 12 sessions and has strong evidence for reducing PTSD symptoms.
Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy involves gradually and safely confronting trauma-related memories, feelings, and situations that you have been avoiding. By processing these experiences in a controlled therapeutic setting, the traumatic memories lose their power to trigger intense distress.
Somatic experiencing and body-based approaches address the physical manifestations of trauma stored in the body, including chronic tension, pain, and dysregulated nervous system responses.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Our licensed therapists at South Denver Therapy specialize in helping you build healthier patterns and stronger relationships. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
Book a Free Consultation Learn more about individual therapy →Crisis Resources: If you or someone you know is in crisis, please reach out immediately. Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (available 24/7). Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741. Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 then press 1, or text 838255. You deserve support, and help is available right now.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About PTSD
It is normal to experience distressing symptoms in the days and weeks following a traumatic event. Difficulty sleeping, intrusive thoughts, heightened anxiety, and emotional reactivity are all common acute stress responses. These symptoms often resolve naturally within the first month as the brain processes the experience. PTSD is distinguished by symptoms that persist beyond one month, that cause clinically significant distress, and that impair functioning in important areas of life. If your symptoms have not improved or have worsened after a month, a professional evaluation is recommended.
Yes. This is called delayed-onset PTSD, and it occurs in an estimated 25% of PTSD cases. A person may cope well for months or even years after a traumatic event, only to develop symptoms when triggered by a new stressor, a life transition, or a reminder of the original trauma. Retirement, the death of a loved one, or even a positive event like the birth of a child can surface unprocessed trauma. The delay does not make the PTSD any less real or valid. Treatment is equally effective regardless of when symptoms first appear.
The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) is a 20-item self-report questionnaire developed by the National Center for PTSD. It corresponds directly to the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for PTSD and is one of the most widely used screening instruments for trauma symptoms in both clinical and research settings. The PCL-5 measures symptoms across all four PTSD clusters: intrusion, avoidance, negative changes in thoughts and mood, and changes in arousal and reactivity. Our quiz is informed by the PCL-5 framework, though it is a simplified self-assessment rather than the validated clinical instrument itself.
Yes. Children of all ages can develop PTSD, though their symptoms may present differently than in adults. Young children may express trauma through repetitive play that re-enacts aspects of the event, regression to earlier developmental behaviors such as bedwetting, separation anxiety, or new fears that seem unrelated to the trauma. Older children and adolescents may show symptoms more similar to adults, including flashbacks, avoidance, and emotional changes. Early intervention is particularly important for children, as untreated childhood PTSD can significantly affect development.
EMDR is one of the most extensively researched treatments for PTSD and has strong evidence for its effectiveness. Multiple meta-analyses have found that EMDR produces significant reductions in PTSD symptoms, often in fewer sessions than other evidence-based treatments. It is recommended as a first-line PTSD treatment by the World Health Organization, the American Psychological Association, the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. South Denver Therapy's clinicians have extensive training and experience in EMDR therapy for trauma treatment.
Complex PTSD develops in response to prolonged, repeated trauma, particularly during childhood or in situations of captivity. While it shares the core symptoms of PTSD (intrusion, avoidance, negative thoughts and mood, and hyperarousal), C-PTSD additionally involves severe difficulties with emotional regulation, a persistently negative and distorted self-concept, and significant challenges in relationships. People with C-PTSD often struggle with shame, chronic feelings of emptiness, dissociative experiences, and difficulty trusting others. Treatment for C-PTSD often requires a longer, phased approach that addresses safety and stabilization before trauma processing.
Acute stress responses often resolve within the first month after a traumatic event without professional treatment. However, once PTSD has developed, it rarely resolves completely on its own. Research shows that without treatment, PTSD symptoms tend to persist for years and can worsen over time, particularly as avoidance patterns expand and become more entrenched. Some individuals may experience periods of reduced symptoms, but triggers can reactivate the full symptom picture. Professional treatment, particularly evidence-based approaches like EMDR, CPT, and PE, significantly accelerates and improves recovery outcomes.
Absolutely not. PTSD is a neurobiological response to overwhelming experience. It reflects the brain's threat detection and memory systems functioning exactly as they were designed to, except the normal processing that should occur after danger passes has been disrupted. PTSD develops in people of all backgrounds, temperaments, and levels of resilience. Many of the most resilient individuals, including combat veterans, first responders, and survivors of extreme adversity, develop PTSD. Seeking help is an act of strength, not weakness.
Supporting a loved one with PTSD involves educating yourself about the condition, being patient with the recovery process, avoiding pressuring them to "get over it" or share details before they are ready, encouraging professional treatment without forcing it, maintaining your own self-care and boundaries, and seeking your own support if needed. Partners of people with PTSD often benefit from their own individual therapy or support groups. Organizations like the National Center for PTSD provide excellent resources for families. Remember that you cannot heal your loved one's trauma for them, but your consistent, compassionate presence matters enormously.
Treatment length varies based on the type of trauma, its severity and duration, co-occurring conditions, and the specific therapeutic approach used. Some people experience significant improvement in 8-12 sessions of EMDR or CPT. Complex PTSD resulting from prolonged trauma typically requires longer treatment, often involving a stabilization phase before direct trauma processing. Your therapist will work with you to develop a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs and will regularly assess progress. The most important thing is to begin, because every session is a step toward healing.
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📖 About This Quiz
This PTSD screening quiz was developed by the licensed therapists at South Denver Therapy in Castle Rock, Colorado. Our team specializes in EMDR therapy, individual therapy, and couples counseling.
We know that trauma can make you feel like you are broken, like the person you were before is gone forever. We want you to know that healing is possible. The brain has a remarkable capacity for recovery when given the right support, and evidence-based trauma treatments like EMDR are specifically designed to activate that capacity. You do not have to live the rest of your life defined by what happened to you.
Our therapists provide a safe, compassionate environment where you can process your experiences at your own pace. We are trained in multiple evidence-based trauma therapies and will work with you to find the approach that best fits your needs.
Learn more about our team | Book a free 15-minute consultation
Disclaimer: This quiz is an educational screening tool and does not constitute a clinical diagnosis. It is not a substitute for professional mental health evaluation. PTSD is a diagnosable condition that responds well to evidence-based treatment. If your results suggest elevated trauma symptoms, we strongly encourage you to consult with a licensed mental health professional. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7. You can also text HOME to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.