Building healthy sexual connections after developmental trauma

Trauma Self-Check (Educational)

This short self-check is educational only. It does not diagnose trauma.

If you feel triggered or overwhelmed, please pause and reach out to your local supports.

Developmental Trauma Self-Check

Over the past 12 months, how many and how often have you noticed:

• I work hard to hold it together in public, then crash in private.
• I struggle to name what I feel until it overloads me.
• I say yes to keep the peace, then feel resentful or empty.
• I feel loyal to people who do not treat me well.
• I lose time or feel foggy when stressed.
• I avoid closeness or over-attach quickly, then panic.
• I find it hard to trust my own judgement.
• I feel shame when I try to set boundaries.
• I need external approval to feel steady.
• I push through fatigue instead of pausing.

Brain Impact Self-Check

Over the past 12 months, how often have you noticed:

• My mind jumps to what could go wrong, even in safe moments.
• I find it hard to remember recent details when I am stressed.
• Decisions feel risky, so I delay or avoid them.
• I forget good experiences quickly and dwell on the bad.
• I feel numb or overwhelmed, with little in-between.
• I lose words when emotions rise.
• I misread neutral faces or tones as negative.
• I struggle to notice body signals like hunger, tension or breath.
• I do better when someone I trust is nearby.
• I feel different “versions” of me in different settings.