Anxiety is a universal emotion, yet its grip feels uniquely personal to each individual. With the rise of daily stressors, many of us question, ‘Is my anxiety normal or something more? This Anxiety Test offers a gentle mirror to reflect upon your emotions. While this test clarifies your anxiety levels and provides recommendations on managing and potentially reducing your anxiety, it’s essential to understand that it’s not a diagnostic tool. Empower yourself with knowledge and step into a life where you control your emotions rather than letting them control you. For a comprehensive assessment and understanding of your anxiety, seeking professional advice is always recommended.
ACUTE STRESS REACTION
Acute stress reaction is a transient disorder of significant severity that develops in individuals without an apparent mental disorder in response to exceptional physical and psychological stress, typically resolving within hours or days. The stressor may be a severe traumatic experience, including a threat to the safety or physical integrity of the individual or a loved one (e.g., a natural disaster, accident, combat, criminal behavior, rape) or an unusually abrupt and threatening change in the sufferer’s social status and/or environment, such as the loss of multiple loved ones or a house fire.
Individual vulnerability and adaptive capacity play a role in the occurrence and severity of acute stress reactions; this is evidenced by the fact that not everyone exposed to severe stress develops this disorder. Symptoms typically exhibit a mixed and fluctuating pattern and include an initial state of confusion with some narrowing of the field of consciousness and decreased attention, an inability to adequately respond to external stimuli, and disorientation.
An acute stress reaction may be accompanied by either further withdrawal from the surrounding situation (even to the point of dissociative stupor) or agitation and hyperactivity. Autonomic signs of panic (tachycardia, hyperventilation, numbness, profuse sweating, flushing) are often present. Symptoms typically develop within minutes of exposure to a stressful stimulus or event and resolve within two to three days (often within hours). Partial or complete dissociative amnesia of the event may subsequently occur.
Diagnostic criteria:
There must be a clear temporal connection between exposure to the unusual stressor and the onset of symptoms; onset is usually immediate or within a few minutes. Symptoms have the following characteristics:
- have a mixed and usually changing pattern; in addition to the initial stupor, depression, anxiety, anger, despair, hyperactivity, and withdrawal may be observed, but no single symptom predominates for long;
- resolve rapidly (within a few hours at most) in cases where the stressful environment can be eliminated. In cases where the stress continues or is inherently unsustainable, symptoms typically begin to resolve after 24-48 hours and minimize within 3 days.
This diagnosis cannot be used to describe sudden exacerbations of symptoms in individuals already experiencing symptoms that meet the criteria for any mental disorder, excluding those with specific personality disorders.
The diagnosis of acute stress reaction includes:
- nervous demobilization
- crisis state
- acute crisis reaction
- combat fatigue
- mental shock
Why Take The Anxiety Test?
Feeling anxious now and then is a part of life. But when it interferes with daily activities, it might be more than just regular stress. The Anxiety Test helps gauge where you stand and guides you on potential next steps.
Expert Insight
Dr. Judson Brewer, a modern-day psychiatrist and neuroscientist, is renowned for his insights into anxiety. In his book “Unwinding Anxiety,” he offers a clinically validated plan that tackles the deeply ingrained habits of worry and fear. Through a blend of brain-based strategies and practical tips, Dr. Brewer presents an approach that identifies the roots of anxiety and provides accessible tools to overcome it.
How the Test Works
The test consists of 20 questions divided into two sets. The first set has questions with answers ranging from “Never” to “Very Often,” while the second set varies from “Seldom” to “Almost always.” Answer each based on your recent experiences.
Scoring is assigned as follows:
- Never/Seldom: 0 points
- Rarely/Now and then: 1 point
- Sometimes/Regularly: 2 points
- Often/Frequently: 3 points
- Very Often/Almost always: 4 points
Interpreting Your Test Results
- 0-20 points: Minimal Anxiety
- 21-40 points: Mild Anxiety
- 41-60 points: Moderate Anxiety
- 61-80 points: High Anxiety
- 81-100 points: Severe Anxiety
Recommendations to Prevent it:
Manage anxiety by practicing mindfulness, keeping a routine, staying connected with loved ones, and reducing caffeine intake. Remember, it’s okay to ask for help when feeling overwhelmed.
Important Note:
This test is not a substitute for a professional diagnosis. Always consult with a mental health professional for a comprehensive evaluation.
Instructions:
Answer each question based on how you’ve felt recently. There’s no right or wrong answer, just what feels true for you.
Disclaimer
This test is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a diagnostic tool.
Try Other Test
- Question of
How often do you feel overwhelmed by your thoughts?
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Very Often
Correct Wrong
- Question of
Do you find it hard to relax?
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Very Often
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- Question of
How frequently does worry hinder your work performance?
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Very Often
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- Question of
Do you become easily annoyed or irritable?
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Very Often
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- Question of
How often do you fear something awful might happen?
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Very Often
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- Question of
Do you avoid social situations due to fear?
- Seldom
- Now and then
- Regularly
- Frequently
- Almost always
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- Question of
How often do you have trouble sleeping due to racing thoughts?
- Seldom
- Now and then
- Regularly
- Frequently
- Almost always
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- Question of
Do you frequently feel restless?
- Seldom
- Now and then
- Regularly
- Frequently
- Almost always
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- Question of
Does a sense of dread often plague you?
- Seldom
- Now and then
- Regularly
- Frequently
- Almost always
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- Question of
Do you constantly seek reassurance from others?
- Seldom
- Now and then
- Regularly
- Frequently
- Almost always
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- Question of
How often do external events trigger panic attacks for you?
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Very Often
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- Question of
How much of the time do you feel shaky or jittery?
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Very Often
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- Question of
How often do you find yourself avoiding certain places or events?
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Very Often
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- Question of
Do you often feel like danger is everywhere?
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Very Often
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- Question of
How often do you experience heart palpitations?
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Very Often
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