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How Do I React to Trauma?

Take this quiz to learn about your trauma response.

Your initial reaction to traumatic or stressful situations is known as your traumatic response. Everyone has one that they resort to most often—depending on your personality and past experiences, your means of processing painful events may be different from friends’, siblings’, and peers’. It might also be different from what you’ve seen represented on TV and social media.

To discover your trauma/stress response and start on a path of healing, click “Start Quiz” now.

Disclaimer: This quiz is not a diagnostic tool and should not replace the advice of a licensed psychologist or therapist.

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Questions Overview

1. It sometimes feels like if my loved ones aren’t happy, I can’t be happy. So I go out of my way to make sure everyone is cared for.
  1. I relate to this a lot.
  2. I kind of relate to this.
  3. I don’t relate to this.
  4. I’m not sure if I relate to this.
2. When I’m in a stressful situation, I often find myself staring off into space.
  1. I relate to this a lot.
  2. I kind of relate to this.
  3. I don’t relate to this.
  4. I’m not sure if I relate to this.
3. I constantly worry about other people’s feelings and what they may be thinking about me.
  1. I relate to this a lot.
  2. I kind of relate to this.
  3. I don’t relate to this.
  4. I’m not sure if I relate to this.
4. I feel like I have to keep myself busy when I’m stressed. I always have a new project, task, or hobby to distract myself with.
  1. I relate to this a lot.
  2. I kind of relate to this.
  3. I don’t relate to this.
  4. I’m not sure if I relate to this.
5. When I feel offended, I will always speak my mind. Why beat around the bush?
  1. I relate to this a lot.
  2. I kind of relate to this.
  3. I don’t relate to this.
  4. I’m not sure if I relate to this.
6. I have a hard time sharing my emotions. Instead, they usually come out all at once when I’m feeling overwhelmed.
  1. I relate to this a lot.
  2. I kind of relate to this.
  3. I don’t relate to this.
  4. I’m not sure if I relate to this.
7. I tend to blame myself when things go wrong. I apologize to others constantly.
  1. I relate to this a lot.
  2. I kind of relate to this.
  3. I don’t relate to this.
  4. I’m not sure if I relate to this.
8. People sometimes say I’m too sensitive. I just really can’t stand confrontation or conflicts.
  1. I relate to this a lot.
  2. I kind of relate to this.
  3. I don’t relate to this.
  4. I’m not sure if I relate to this.
9. I look on the bright side of every situation, even when things are really bad. I work hard to only have happy memories.
  1. I relate to this a lot.
  2. I kind of relate to this.
  3. I don’t relate to this.
  4. I’m not sure if I relate to this.
10. I avoid situations and things that remind me of bad past experiences. I don’t want to be reminded of them.
  1. I relate to this a lot.
  2. I kind of relate to this.
  3. I don’t relate to this.
  4. I’m not sure if I relate to this.
11. I have a hard time remembering the past. My memories can be pretty foggy.
  1. I relate to this a lot.
  2. I kind of relate to this.
  3. I don’t relate to this.
  4. I’m not sure if I relate to this.
12. I like to be in charge of every project and situation. I can only count on myself.
  1. I relate to this a lot.
  2. I kind of relate to this.
  3. I don’t relate to this.
  4. I’m not sure if I relate to this.

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What Is a Trauma Response?

A trauma response is how you react to difficult, stressful, or traumatic experiences. When something distressing happens, it’s completely normal to have a response, but this response isn’t always a conscious decision. How you respond to trauma all depends on the situation and your personality and experiences. There are 4 main types of trauma responses (known as the 4 Fs) that can influence how you react physically and mentally to frightening situations:

  • Fight response: An instinctual reaction to fight or face a traumatic situation head on.
  • Flight response: An immediate reaction to run or get as far away from trauma as possible.
  • Freeze response: Dissociating during (or after) a traumatic or overwhelming event.
  • Fawn response: People-pleasing during (or after) a traumatic event in an attempt to keep future traumatic events from happening again.

Some psychologists argue that there are 6 trauma responses, the above 4 as well as a fine and faint response. The scientific proof and clinical studies of these additional responses aren’t as well, but current findings tell us that:

  • The fine response is a form of self-denial and occurs when someone doesn’t want to believe that they’ve been through something traumatic.
  • The faint response is a physical reaction to trauma that occurs when someone faints or passes out due to a stressful situation.

Understanding your trauma response can help you cope with trauma. By learning why and how you react, you’ll be able to find a healthy way to confront and handle your emotions. Talk to a therapist or counselor for extra guidance. They can help you identify your traumatic response and give you personalized coping mechanisms and strategies.


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Any medically related content, whether User Content or otherwise found on the Service, is not intended to be medical advice or instructions for medical diagnosis or treatment, and no physician-patient or psychotherapist-patient relationship is, or is intended to be, created.

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  • Ginger G.

    Ginger G.

    Jun 18

    "The quiz questions were right on to the point of not taking too much time in answering them..."
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