Childhood Trauma Test

Find out if you're possibly dealing with the aftermath of childhood trauma.

There’s no denying that we can carry our past with us, especially when it comes to difficult childhood memories and events. What if you suspect that some negative events from your early years are still impacting you today, though?

Although not meant to be a replacement for a psychological exam, this quiz aims to help identify whether or not you might've experienced childhood trauma in the past. If you’re ready to learn a little more about yourself, hit “Start Quiz.”

This quiz is not an official psychological test and should not be used as a diagnostic tool of any kind. Always meet with a mental health professional (like a psychiatrist) to receive any official diagnosis.

Quizzes Are More Fun With Friends

Share this quiz with your friends and compare results.

Questions Overview

1. Can you recall a lot of happy memories from your childhood?
  1. None at all.
  2. A couple, but not very many.
  3. Yes, quite a few.
  4. Absolutely! There are so many.
2. Do you find yourself dissociating frequently?
  1. Yes, I dissociate all the time.
  2. Yes, I dissociate pretty often.
  3. Nah. I dissociate once in a while, but not frequently.
  4. No, I almost never dissociate.
3. Is debilitating, chronic stress a common element in your day-to-day life?
  1. Absolutely. It most definitely is.
  2. Mostly, yeah. I might have a day of reprieve in the week, but that’s it.
  3. Not really. I’m super stressed occasionally, but not constantly.
  4. Not at all—I’m almost never stressed, especially not to that degree.
4. Is it a huge struggle for you to keep your emotions under control?
  1. Definitely—balancing and regulating my emotions is a constant struggle for me.
  2. Yes, I find it difficult to regulate my emotions, but I wouldn't say it's a big problem.
  3. On rare occasions I might struggle to regulate my emotions, but not frequently.
  4. No, I don’t struggle with this at all.
5. Do you have trouble holding onto friendships for long periods of time?
  1. Yes. It feels like none of my friendships last for very long.
  2. Partially, yes— I only have 1 or 2 long-lasting friendships.
  3. Not especially. I’ve lost a couple of friends, but not many overall.
  4. Not at all! I’m great at holding onto my friendships.
6. Do you commonly feel anxious?
  1. 100%. I can’t remember a day when I wasn’t anxious.
  2. Yes, I’m anxious pretty often—it’s a common theme in my life.
  3. Sometimes, but not incredibly often.
  4. Nope. I rarely ever feel anxious.
7. Do you have trouble sharing how you’re really feeling with others?
  1. For sure—it’s a real struggle for me.
  2. I can occasionally, but it’s definitely a challenge.
  3. Not really. I can typically manage just fine.
  4. No. It’s easy for me to be vulnerable with others.
8. How often do you assume that people are thinking negatively about you?
  1. Almost constantly. It’s easiest to assume the worst.
  2. Pretty frequently. It’s rare for me to envision a positive outcome.
  3. Not often at all—not about the people I care for, anyway.
  4. Almost never. I don’t really care what anyone thinks about me.
9. Do you often doubt your personal capabilities?
  1. All the time. Self-doubt is a common theme in my life.
  2. Fairly often. It’s hard for me to believe in myself for long.
  3. Not that often. I can push self-doubt away easily.
  4. No, I don’t. I have faith in what I can accomplish.
10. As a child, were you anxious about being punished harshly?
  1. Yes, that was a constant worry for me.
  2. I was concerned about it pretty frequently.
  3. On occasion, maybe, but not overall.
  4. No. I was never worried about that.
11. Do you find yourself lying awake at night?
  1. Yes. I’ll toss and turn for what feels like hours.
  2. Sometimes, yeah. Some nights are worse than others.
  3. Not usually, but on rare occasions I might have trouble.
  4. Nope! Unless I drink coffee before bed, I’m out like a light.
12. Are you comfortable outlining clear boundaries for yourself?
  1. No. I find it really difficult to establish boundaries for myself.
  2. No, not entirely. I find it tough to assert myself sometimes.
  3. For the most part; it really depends on the person.
  4. Yes—I have no trouble establishing clear boundaries in my life.
13. Describe your childhood memories in two words:
  1. Bleak and unhappy.
  2. Mediocre and unsettling.
  3. Pleasant and dull.
  4. Happy and warm.
14. How would you describe your relationship with your parents now?
  1. I don’t have a good relationship with one or both of them.
  2. I have a functioning relationship with them, but it’s strained.
  3. My relationship with my parents isn’t always amazing, but I can’t complain.
  4. I have a healthy and balanced relationship with my parents.

More Quizzes

Did you like this quiz?


Your mental and emotional well-being are incredibly important, and you deserve to have a safe place to dive into and heal from the negative events of your past. Meeting with a therapist and\/or psychiatrist can be an incredibly helpful way to heal from potential past trauma, along with helpful at-home techniques like journaling<\/a>, mindful meditation, and even yoga<\/a>.

At the end of the day, what matters is that you\u2019re one step closer to being the happiest and healthiest version of yourself\u2014and that\u2019s something worth celebrating!","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Choose-a-Therapist"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Do-Mindful-Meditation"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Choose a Therapist","id":45124,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Choose-a-Therapist","image":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d7\/Stop-Alcohol-Cravings-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Stop-Alcohol-Cravings-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","alt":"How to Choose a Therapist"},{"title":"Mindfulness Meditation: A Beginner\u2019s Guide","id":830322,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Do-Mindful-Meditation","image":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/79\/Do-Mindful-Meditation-Step-15-Version-3.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Do-Mindful-Meditation-Step-15-Version-3.jpg","alt":"Mindfulness Meditation: A Beginner\u2019s Guide"}],"minimum":0,"image":"","image_url":""},{"number":2,"text":"You might be affected by childhood trauma.","meaning":"It sounds like there could be some negative events or circumstances from your childhood that have really stuck with you, and may even be impacting your day-to-day life. Taking time to really examine and acknowledge your past takes a lot of courage, and it's amazing that you're taking such an important first step.

Your mental and emotional well-being are incredibly important, and you deserve to have a safe place to dive into and heal from the negative events of your past. Meeting with a therapist and\/or psychiatrist can be an incredibly helpful way to heal from past trauma, along with helpful at-home techniques like journaling<\/a>, mindful meditation, and even yoga<\/a>.

At the end of the day, what matters is that you\u2019re one step closer to being the happiest and healthiest version of yourself\u2014and that\u2019s something worth celebrating!","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Choose-a-Therapist"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Do-Mindful-Meditation"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Choose a Therapist","id":45124,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Choose-a-Therapist","image":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d7\/Stop-Alcohol-Cravings-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Stop-Alcohol-Cravings-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","alt":"How to Choose a Therapist"},{"title":"Mindfulness Meditation: A Beginner\u2019s Guide","id":830322,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Do-Mindful-Meditation","image":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/79\/Do-Mindful-Meditation-Step-15-Version-3.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Do-Mindful-Meditation-Step-15-Version-3.jpg","alt":"Mindfulness Meditation: A Beginner\u2019s Guide"}],"minimum":0,"image":"","image_url":""},{"number":3,"text":"You\u2019re likely not affected by childhood trauma.","meaning":"It doesn\u2019t seem like too many negative events or circumstances from your past currently have a heavy impact on your day-to-day life\u2014but it\u2019s still great that you\u2019re setting aside time to really explore and examine your memories, and that you\u2019re keeping close tabs on your mental and emotional wellbeing.

And whether or not you have experienced traumas in childhood, therapy can still be an excellent resource. Meeting with a therapist gives you the freedom to explore all of your thoughts and feelings in a safe place and can help keep your emotional health in great shape. And if therapy doesn\u2019t seem like the right fit for you, that\u2019s totally fine, too\u2014there are plenty of ways to keep your mental health in a good place, like practicing mindful meditation, journaling, or even doing yoga daily<\/a>.","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Do-Mindful-Meditation"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Start-a-Journal"}],"link_data":[{"title":"Mindfulness Meditation: A Beginner\u2019s Guide","id":830322,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Do-Mindful-Meditation","image":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/79\/Do-Mindful-Meditation-Step-15-Version-3.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Do-Mindful-Meditation-Step-15-Version-3.jpg","alt":"Mindfulness Meditation: A Beginner\u2019s Guide"},{"title":"How to Start a Journal","id":900673,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Start-a-Journal","image":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/74\/Start-a-Journal-Step-12-Version-2.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Start-a-Journal-Step-12-Version-2.jpg","alt":"How to Start a Journal"}],"minimum":0,"image":"","image_url":""},{"number":4,"text":"You don\u2019t seem to be affected by childhood trauma.","meaning":"It doesn\u2019t seem that any negative events or circumstances from your past currently have a heavy impact on your day-to-day life\u2014but it\u2019s still great that you\u2019re setting aside time to really explore and examine your memories, and that you\u2019re keeping close tabs on your mental and emotional wellbeing.

And whether or not you have experienced traumas in childhood, therapy can still be an excellent resource. Meeting with a therapist gives you the freedom to explore all of your thoughts and feelings in a safe place and can help keep your emotional health in great shape. If therapy doesn\u2019t seem like the right fit for you, that\u2019s totally fine\u2014there are plenty of ways to keep your mental health in a good place, like practicing mindful meditation, journaling, or even doing yoga daily<\/a>.","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Do-Mindful-Meditation"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Start-a-Journal"}],"link_data":[{"title":"Mindfulness Meditation: A Beginner\u2019s Guide","id":830322,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Do-Mindful-Meditation","image":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/79\/Do-Mindful-Meditation-Step-15-Version-3.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Do-Mindful-Meditation-Step-15-Version-3.jpg","alt":"Mindfulness Meditation: A Beginner\u2019s Guide"},{"title":"How to Start a Journal","id":900673,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Start-a-Journal","image":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/74\/Start-a-Journal-Step-12-Version-2.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Start-a-Journal-Step-12-Version-2.jpg","alt":"How to Start a Journal"}],"minimum":0,"image":"","image_url":""}]" class="quiz_results_data"/>\"Lost<\/picture>","alt":"Lost Inner Child Test"},{"title":"Did My Parents Have a Negative Parenting Style Quiz","id":13840209,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Negative-Parenting-Test","image":"\"Negative<\/picture>","alt":"Did My Parents Have a Negative Parenting Style Quiz"},{"title":"Am I a Highly Sensitive Person Quiz","id":14047700,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Highly-Sensitive-Person-Test","image":"\"Highly<\/picture>","alt":"Am I a Highly Sensitive Person Quiz"}],"number":1},{"text":"I\u2019d prefer something a little more light-hearted.","result":"Sounds good! Let\u2019s see if any of these quizzes pique your interest:","next_quizzes":[{"title":"What Type of Person Am I Quiz","id":13974160,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/What-Type-of-Person-Am-I","image":"\"What<\/picture>","alt":"What Type of Person Am I Quiz"},{"title":"What Is My Personal Color Quiz","id":13920368,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Personal-Color-Test","image":"\"Personal<\/picture>","alt":"What Is My Personal Color Quiz"},{"title":"Right Brain vs Left Brain Test","id":13844549,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Right-Brain-vs-Left-Brain-Test","image":"\"Right<\/picture>","alt":"Right Brain vs Left Brain Test"}],"number":2}]}" class="quiz_questionnaire_data"/>

Childhood Trauma in Adults

Difficult moments in our past—in our childhood, especially—can have a lasting impact on our long-term mental health, even in our adult years. Officially known as Adverse Childhood Experiences (or ACEs), these events can stem from a wide variety of negative childhood circumstances, including (but not limited to):

  • Neglect
  • Abuse
  • Imprisoned loved ones
  • Loved ones struggling with substance abuse
  • Divorced parents
  • Domestic violence at home

ACEs can manifest in many unpleasant ways, including increasing one’s risk of long-term physical ailments (like heart disease or diabetes) as well as long-term emotional struggles, including mental health issues, behavioral challenges, and more. Still, there’s plenty that can be done to reduce the impact that ACEs have on a person’s daily life:

  • Seek professional diagnosis and treatment. It’s always best to get any physical ailments diagnosed by a licensed medical professional and any mental ailments diagnosed by a psychiatrist. Psychotherapy, or regular appointments where you meet with a therapist/psychologist , can also be an immensely helpful way to unpack, discuss, and heal from your trauma in a safe place.
    • In some cases, a medical or psychiatric professional may recommend medication to help you treat a long-term physical or mental illness.
    • A healthcare or mental health professional might advise you to take the 10-question ACE Questionnaire, a research-based test that explores what types of traumatic incidents may have occurred in your childhood and could still be impacting you today.
  • Journal about your negative experiences. Take a few days to write about some of the negative feelings and experiences that are taking the biggest toll on you. Is there anything specific that’s really sticking with you and affecting your daily life? Give yourself permission to dive into these feelings and explore them freely.
  • Spend time mindfully meditating . Research shows that mindful meditation can be a helpful way to promote healing in your brain. [1] This type of meditation is really simple—focus on identifying and tracking your breaths as you breathe in and out, and pay attention to the different types of sensations you experience during that time. Try to do this at a time when you’re able to really focus and relax, whether that’s first thing in the morning or right before bed.
  • Make yoga part of your routine. Yoga can help you feel good—research actually proves it! In one particular study, people who practiced yoga experienced an over 25% increase in their brains’ GABA production (a feel-good chemical). [2] wikiHow has plenty of great resources to help you get started, including How to Do Yoga , How to Practice Yoga Daily , and even How to Do Yoga Meditation .
  • Connect with your friends and family. Support and solidarity can go a really long way when you’re healing from traumatic childhood experiences. It might help to seek solace in a like-minded community (like a group that practices mindfulness meditation), or to have a deep chat with your friends and loved ones about their own lived experiences.

Want to learn more?

You Might Also Like

Medical Disclaimer

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.

Read More...

References

  1. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21071182/
  2. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17532734/

Reader Success Stories

  • A. Y.

    Feb 5

    "This definitely helped validate me. I only got a 4 on the ACE test, but the amount those few things affected me was ..." more
    Rated this article:
More reader stories Hide reader stories
Share your story