My counselor suggested a workbook that I purchased on Amazon.com It's title is "Healing the Trauma of Domestic Violence". There is a chapter explaining about PTSD and listing the 20 major symptoms.
1) Do you hav unwanted thoughts or mental pictures about the abuse when nothing is happening to remind you?
2) Do you have distressing dreams or nightmares about the abuser?
3) Do you suddenly relive or have flashbacks of the abuse or act or feel as if the abuse is actually happening again?
4) Do you get distressed or emotionally upset when reminded of the abuse?
5) Do you have physical reactions when reinded of the abuse? For example, do your palms sweat? Do you breathe rapidsy? Does your heart pound? Does your mouth get dry? Do your muscles get tense? Do you have a nervous stomach?
6) Do you try to avoid thoughts or feelings that will remind you of the abuse?
7) Do you try to avoid activities, conversations, people, or places that will remind you of the abuse?
8) Are you unable to remember some important parts of the abuse or events related to the abuse in some way?
9) Have you lost interest in important activities, such as you job, hobbies, sports, or social activities?
10) Do you feel detached or cut off rrom others around you?
11) Do you feel emotionally numb? For example, are you unable to experience loving feelings, joyful feelings, happy feelings? OR are you unable to cry?
12) Do you think your future will be cut short in some way? For example, do you doubt whether you willl have a creer, marriage, or children, or do you expect a shortened life or think you will die prematurely?
13) Do you have difficulty falling or staying asleep?
14) Are you hyperalert, watchful, or on guard? For example, do you often look around you to check who might be there? Do you ofen check to see if windows and doors are locked?
17) Are you jumpy or are you startled by sudden sounds or movements?
18) Do you experience guilt that is related to the abuse in some way? In other words, do you get upset because you think you should have thought, felt, or acted differently?
19) Do you experience anger that is related to the abuse in some way? In other words, do you get upset because you think someone else should have thought, felt, or acted differently?
20) Do you experience grief, sorrow or feelings of loss that are related to the abuse in some way?

To determine if you have PTSD:
1) Write you number of yes answers to questions 1 to 5.
2) Write you number of yes answers to questions 6 to 12.
3) Write you number of yes answers to questions 13 to 17.

There is a very good likelihood that you have PTSD if yo indicated you have:
1) at least on reexperiencing symptom (questions 13 to 17)
2) at least three numbing or avoidance symptoms (questions 6 to 12)
3) at least two hyperarousal symptoms (questions 13 to 17)

This should give you an idea of whether or not you are suffering from PTSD. There are lots of books at the library on this subject.

Thanks for the information. I just had a question about the bottom of the page - it says that if you have 1 yes in 13 - 17 and if you have 2 yes' in 13 - 17 ... should that first one have been 1 yes in 1 - 5???

Whoops...typo!
Calculating your answers,
#1 should read "at least one in questions 1 to 5".
Thanks for noticing!

Thanks for replying - I was just a tad confused ... but it doesn't take much lately...

I totally understand! Hard to concentrate, easily confused, forgetful...all part of the joys of PTSD! Good Luck!

PTSD= Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Usually referred to with soldiers, but any trauma can cause it...abuse, loss of a loved one....etc etc.

6) Do you try to avoid thoughts or feelings that will remind you of the abuse?
7) Do you try to avoid activities, conversations, people, or places that will remind you of the abuse?

but isn't that normal???

Jondi - it is normal only up to a point. This is referring to shutting down feelings that would have brought about the abuse, like if you were angry and it brought about abuse, do you now shut down anger. If you answering the phone before it rings twice, do you still avoid people that he disaproved of but you wanted as friends, do you avoid restraunts, foods, etc., not because you don't like them, but because he didn't like them or because he didn't like the way you cooked them?

By the way, DS has a discussion group for PTSD. If any of you who are diagnosed or curious about it, you should check it out. There are people there who are healing from all sorts of traumas, not just abuse, but you can see how intertwined our various traumas are.

I am learning a lot about PTSD. I have it.

Revpatty - Thank you for mentioning the DS discussion group for PTSD! I'm going to check it out! Anything to help get through this ordeal!!!

Thank you. Here I was thinking HE has PTSD (he probably does, legitimately) when I learn from this I have symptoms, too (not so obvious to me). Wow. Good incentive to stay away.