Do I Have Trauma? Free Self-Assessment

Do I Have Trauma? Understanding Unresolved Trauma

Trauma is one of the most misunderstood concepts in mental health. Most people associate it with dramatic, visible events — war, disasters, severe accidents. In reality, trauma is defined not by the event itself, but by the lasting impact it has on the nervous system and sense of self. Many people who struggle with anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, emotional numbness, or substance use are, at their core, managing the unprocessed weight of traumatic experiences they may not even fully recognise as trauma.

Research from the CDC and Kaiser Permanente's landmark ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) Study found that adverse childhood experiences are extremely common — affecting more than 60% of adults — and have profound long-term effects on physical health, mental health, and behaviour. The trauma self-assessment above draws on the ACE Study, the PCL-5 (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5), and complex trauma research to give you a clinically grounded picture of where you are.

Signs You May Have Unresolved Trauma

Unresolved trauma does not always announce itself with flashbacks or visible distress. Many people with significant trauma histories maintain professional careers and social lives while struggling privately. Common signs of unresolved trauma include persistent anxiety without a clear cause, difficulty trusting others or maintaining stable relationships, emotional numbness or difficulty feeling joy, hypervigilance and a constant sense of threat, chronic shame or guilt, sleep disturbances, and using substances or behaviours to manage emotions.

Somatic trauma symptoms are particularly underrecognised. The body keeps the score — a phrase popularised by psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk — meaning that unresolved trauma is stored not just in the mind but in the body itself. Physical symptoms such as chronic muscle tension, digestive issues, fatigue, and hyperarousal (being easily startled) are common presentations of unresolved trauma that many people never connect to their psychological history.

Types of Trauma This Assessment Covers

PTSD vs Complex PTSD: What Is the Difference?

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) typically develops following a single traumatic event or a clearly identifiable traumatic experience. Its symptoms are organised into four clusters: intrusive re-experiencing (flashbacks, nightmares), avoidance of trauma reminders, negative changes in mood and cognition, and hyperarousal. PTSD is diagnosable using the DSM-5 criteria and is the most widely recognised trauma-related disorder.

Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) is a related but distinct condition that develops following prolonged, repeated traumatic experiences — particularly those that are interpersonal in nature and that occur during childhood or in situations where escape is difficult, such as long-term abuse, neglect, domestic violence, or captivity. In addition to PTSD symptoms, C-PTSD involves significant difficulties with emotional regulation, a deeply damaged sense of self, and persistent problems in relationships. The ICD-11 formally recognises C-PTSD as a separate diagnosis from PTSD. Both are treatable with evidence-based therapies.

How Is Trauma Treated?

Effective trauma treatment requires more than simply talking about what happened. The most widely used and evidence-supported approaches for trauma and PTSD include EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing), which uses bilateral stimulation to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories; Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT), which addresses the thoughts and behaviours that maintain trauma symptoms; and somatic approaches such as somatic experiencing and sensorimotor psychotherapy, which work with the body's stored trauma responses directly.

For complex trauma and C-PTSD, treatment typically requires a phased approach: first establishing safety and stabilisation, then processing traumatic memories, and finally integrating new ways of relating to self and others. Residential treatment programmes offer the most intensive level of support, providing a structured therapeutic environment away from everyday stressors where both trauma and any co-occurring conditions — such as depression, anxiety, or substance use disorder — can be addressed simultaneously.

Frequently Asked Questions