Test Result
Moderate / Provisional Symptoms
“You are carrying a significant emotional load, and while you are coping, the weight of the past is likely slowing you down.”
Your overall pattern
Your responses indicate Moderate Symptoms. This suggests that a past stressful experience is actively encroaching on your present life. You are likely functioning—going to work, seeing friends—but it may feel like you are walking through water; everything takes more effort than it should.
You may find yourself fluctuating between "doing okay" and sudden waves of anxiety, irritability, or numbness. This is a common response when the brain is trying to process a heavy event but hasn't fully integrated it yet.
"You are not 'broken.' You are having a normal reaction to an abnormal amount of stress."
Typical behaviors
- Avoidance Loops: You might subconsciously avoid certain songs, places, or conversations to keep your mood stable.
- Hyper-alertness: You may find it hard to fully relax, even in safe environments, keeping one eye on the exit.
- Emotional Spikes: Small frustrations might trigger disproportionately large reactions of anger or sadness.
Strengths in this pattern
- Endurance: You are managing to navigate daily life despite carrying an invisible heavy load.
- Awareness: The fact that you are taking this test shows you are ready to acknowledge the difficulty, which is the first step in healing.
Common pitfalls
The "I can handle it" trap:
- Normalization: You might have gotten so used to feeling tense or numb that you've forgotten what "calm" feels like.
- Isolation: You might withdraw from friends because explaining how you feel seems too exhausting.
"Reflection point: If a friend felt the way I do, would I tell them to just 'push through'?"
What you can do next
Small actions you can start today
- Grounding Techniques: When you feel an emotional wave, try the "5-4-3-2-1" technique (acknowledge 5 things you see, 4 you feel, etc.) to bring your brain back to the present.
- Scheduled Worry: Allow yourself 15 minutes a day to process the difficult thoughts, then actively set them aside.
Longer-term directions
- Seek Professional Support: At this level, therapy (such as CBT or EMDR) can be incredibly effective in "unsticking" these memories so they become history rather than a present threat.
Disclaimer and when to seek help
This test is for educational and self-exploration purposes only and is not a diagnostic tool. A score in this range suggests that professional support could be very beneficial. If you are in distress, please contact a mental health professional.