PTSD Symptom Self-Check

Charlie Company Cooperative

Instructions: For each question, check the box that best describes your experience over the past month. This is not a diagnosis — it's a starting point for self-awareness. Answer honestly. No one sees this but you.

Re-Experiencing

1. Unwanted memories of deployment that come out of nowhere

Never Rarely Sometimes Often

2. Nightmares or disturbing dreams related to service

Never Rarely Sometimes Often

3. Flashbacks — feeling like you're back in that moment

Never Rarely Sometimes Often

4. Physical reactions to reminders (heart racing, sweating, tension)

Never Rarely Sometimes Often

Avoidance

5. Avoiding thoughts or feelings related to deployment

Never Rarely Sometimes Often

6. Avoiding places, people, or activities that trigger memories

Never Rarely Sometimes Often

Negative Changes in Mood/Cognition

7. Difficulty remembering important parts of traumatic events

Never Rarely Sometimes Often

8. Negative beliefs about yourself or the world ("I'm broken," "No one can be trusted")

Never Rarely Sometimes Often

9. Blaming yourself for what happened

Never Rarely Sometimes Often

10. Persistent negative emotions (fear, anger, guilt, shame)

Never Rarely Sometimes Often

11. Loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy

Never Rarely Sometimes Often

12. Feeling detached or cut off from others

Never Rarely Sometimes Often

13. Difficulty experiencing positive emotions (happiness, love, satisfaction)

Never Rarely Sometimes Often

Arousal and Reactivity

14. Irritability or angry outbursts

Never Rarely Sometimes Often

15. Reckless or self-destructive behavior

Never Rarely Sometimes Often

16. Hypervigilance — always on guard, scanning for threats

Never Rarely Sometimes Often

17. Exaggerated startle response

Never Rarely Sometimes Often

18. Difficulty concentrating

Never Rarely Sometimes Often

19. Sleep problems (trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or restless sleep)

Never Rarely Sometimes Often

Scoring

Never

Rarely

Sometimes

Often

Total Score: _____ / 57

This is not a clinical diagnosis. If you scored above 30, or if several items are "Often," consider speaking with someone who understands combat trauma. The symptoms you're experiencing are real, explainable, and addressable.

Notes

Anything you want to remember, patterns you noticed, or questions to ask: