A person who experiences a catastrophic event may develop ongoing difficulties known as Post.traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The traumatic event may have involved severe injury or a situation with life has been threatened (examples: victim or a witness of physical or sexual abuse, violence in the home or in the community, automobile accidents, natural disasters, etc)  Symptoms of Post-traumatic stress disorder typically start within three months of a traumatic event but n some cases they may take years to surface.  Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms may persist or they may come and go  Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms are generally grouped into three types:

!-intrusive memories. 2-Avoidance and numbing. 3- Increased anxiety or emotional arousal.

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Grief is the reaction to a loss, it does not only refer to a loss of a loved one but can also include a loss of relationships, opportunities, etc.  Grief is not an event, it is rather a PROCESS and it will take time to work through.  It can affect every aspect of a person's life, emotionally, socially, and physically. It may even prompt the person to begin searching for new meaning to life. The word "Normal" is a difficult one to use describing the emotions associated with grief. Some of these emotions may include: Shock & Numbness-Denial-Confusion-Anger & Resentment- Relief-Guilt- Loneliness-Withdrawals

 

While literature provides explanations of the different stages of grief, these stages serve only as a guideline. The grief process is unpredictable with no definite order of the events that must occur. Everyone experiences grief differently and has his/her own pace moving through the stages. There is no exact time limit on grief, a person must avoid the belief that one must "Get over it", rather, the person must find ways to "Cope with it", as some aspects of the loss may stay with the person forever.  For some people it may take a year or two to move through the grief process and begin to adapt to life without his/her loved one.

 

 

Answer the following statements then add up your total score. Circle 1 for never.  Circle 2 for rarely. Circle 3 for sometimes. Circle 4 for frequently. Circle 5 for always

1- I get angry with no or little provocation. 

    1       2      3      4      5

2- I yell and/or curse.

    1       2      3      4      5

3- I feel so angry that I feel that I am going to explode with rage.

    1       2      3      4      5

4- I have a bad temper.

    1       2      3      4      5

5- I have urges to break or destroy things when I become angry.

    1       2      3      4      5

6- I have difficulties letting go of thoughts that make me angry.

    1       2      3      4      5

7- I feel tense and uptight.

    1       2      3      4      5

8- I can't tolerate incompetent people, they make me angry.

    1       2      3      4      5

9- I have urges to beat someone up when I get angry.

    1       2      3      4      5

10- I loose my temper at least once a week.

    1       2      3      4      5

11- I get angry when someone does not understand me.

    1       2      3      4      5

12- I find my self quite annoyed with some friends and family.

    1       2      3      4      5

13- I get very angry with drivers who cut me off or do not drive the exact speed limit.

    1       2      3      4      5

14- I get angry when people do things that they are not supposed to do ( example having more items than they are supposed to in the supermarket express lane)

    1       2      3      4      5

15- I am easily frustrated with equipments when they do not work properly.

    1       2      3      4      5

16-Some people always rub me the wrong way.

    1       2      3      4      5

17- I feel people always try to take advantage of me.

    1       2      3      4      5

18- I get angry when my neighbor is inconsiderate.

    1       2      3      4      5

19- My anger outbursts embarrass family and friends,

    1       2      3      4      5

20- It is very hard for me to forgive a person who made me angry in the past.

    1       2      3      4      5

21- When I get angry I blurt out things I later regret saying.

    1       2      3      4      5

Below 30: You are in a good comfort zone.

30-40: You get angry as often as most people do. Your challenge is to try lowering your score in the coming few months.

50-60: You have plenty of room for improvement. Reading a self help-book on anger management might be very helpful.

60-80: You need to work on controlling your anger in a very deliberate manor.

80 and above: Your anger expression might be interfering with your daily functioning, it would be worthwhile seeking some professional help.