Is This Stress… or Stored Trauma?

Instructions:
For each statement, rate how often it feels true for you:

0 = Never
1 = Sometimes
2 = Often
3 = Almost Always

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🧠 Nervous System

1. I feel on edge even when nothing specific is wrong.
2. I struggle to fully relax, even in safe environments.
3. My body feels tense most of the time (jaw, shoulders, stomach).
4. I have difficulty sleeping or staying asleep.
5. I startle easily or feel hyper-aware of my surroundings.

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💛 Emotional Patterns

6. My emotional reactions sometimes feel bigger than the situation.
7. I experience emotional numbness or shutdown.
8. I feel persistent shame or self-blame.
9. I feel unsafe in relationships, even when there’s no clear danger.
10. I struggle to trust others consistently.

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🔄 Triggers & Reactions

11. Small events can trigger strong emotional or physical reactions.
12. I replay past events repeatedly in my mind.
13. I avoid certain people, conversations, or places to prevent overwhelm.
14. My mood shifts quickly without clear reason.
15. I feel like part of me is still living in the past.

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🌱 Identity & Patterns

16. I minimize what I went through by saying “others had it worse.”
17. I feel responsible for other people’s emotions.
18. I have difficulty setting or maintaining boundaries.
19. Calm feels unfamiliar or uncomfortable.
20. If nothing changed for five years, I would feel trapped or exhausted.

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🧮 Scoring

Add your total score.

0–15:
Likely situational stress. Your nervous system may be under pressure, but it still regulates fairly well.

16–30:
Chronic stress or unresolved emotional strain. Your system may need consistent regulation and support.

31–45:
Strong trauma pattern indicators. Your nervous system may be stuck in protection mode.

46–60:
High likelihood of stored trauma responses. Trauma-informed support could be very beneficial.

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🧠 Important Note

This quiz does not diagnose PTSD or any condition.

It simply helps you reflect on whether your nervous system is:

• Reacting to current stress
  or
• Still protecting you from past overwhelm

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🌿 Gentle Reflection Questions

After scoring, ask yourself:

• Do my reactions feel proportional to the present?
• Does my body feel safe most of the time?
• Am I surviving… or living?

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