SELF TEST FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR DEPENDENCE

  1. Have you ever decided to stop drinking or using drugs for a week or so, but only lasted for a couple of days?
  2. Do you wish people would mind their own business about your drinking or drug use— stop telling you what to do?
  3. Have you ever switched from one kind of drink or drug to another in the hope that this would keep you from getting drunk or too high?
  4. Have you had a drink in the morning or used drugs in the morning during the past year?
  5. Do you envy people who can drink or use drugs without getting into trouble?
  6. Have you had problems connected with drinking or using drugs during the past year?
  7. Has your drinking or drug use caused trouble at home?
  8. Do you tell yourself you can stop drinking or using any time you want to, even though you keep getting drunk or high when you don’t mean to?
  9. Have you missed days of work or school because of drinking or using?
  10. Do you have “blackouts”?
  11. Have you ever felt that your life would be better if you did not drink or use drugs?

If you answered “Yes” to three or more of these questions you  probably need help from a professional with alcohol or drugs.

Adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Brandy Paterak, LMFT, CATC Psychotherapist/Addiction Specialist

LICENSED MARRIAGE FAMILY THERAPIST & CERTIFIED ADDICTION TREATMENT COUNSELOR
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Take a Self Administered Test

SELF TEST FOR DEPRESSION

This quick, simple self-test can help distinguish between clinical depression and the normal fluctuations of mood experienced from time to time by most people. Sadness is a normal part of life, but sometimes when sadness persists, it becomes what mental health authorities call the nation's leading psychological problem, clinical depression, also known as major depression.

    1) Much of the time do you feel...
  • Sad?
  • Lethargic?
  • Pessimistic?
  • Hopeless?
  • Worthless?
  • Helpless?
    2) Much of the time do you...
  • Have difficulty making decisions?
  • Have trouble concentrating?
  • Have memory problems?
    3) Lately have you...
  • Lost interest in things that used to give you pleasure?
  • Had problems at work or in school?
  • Had problems with your family or friends?
  • Isolated yourself from others? Or wanted to?
    4) Lately have you...
  • Felt like you have low energy?
  • Felt restless and irritable?
  • Had trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting up in the morning?
  • Lost your appetite? Or gained weight?
  • Been bothered by persistent headaches, stomach aches or back aches? Muscle or joint pains?
    5) Lately have you...
  • Been drinking more alcohol than you used to?
  • Been taking more mood-altering drugs than you used to?
  • Engaged in risky behavior? (e.g., not wearing a seat belt, crossing streets without looking, driving faster than normal)
    6) Lately, have you been thinking about...
  • Death?
  • Hurting yourself?
  • Your funeral?
  • Killing yourself?

If you answer "yes" to more than two of these questions, you may well be clinically depressed. Consult your physician or a mental health professional for a thorough assessment and treatment.

Source: Adapted from materials created by the National Institute of Mental Health's Depression Awareness, Recognition, and Treatment (D/ART) Program, Rockville, MD

SELF TEST FOR ANXIETY

Try to answer each of these questions on a scale of  0 to 4.  (0) Never (1) sometimes (2) often (3) very often (4) all the time.

  1. I tend to worry about things, even when there are no signs of trouble.
  2. My body often feels so tense, I'm unable to relax.
  3. I avoid certain things or situations — for example, dogs, traveling in airplanes, closed-in places, heights, escalators, highway driving  — because they make me feel afraid.
  4. Out of the blue, my heart starts rapidly pounding.
  5. My emotions and moods go up and down a lot in response to changes around me.
  6. I suddenly feel frightened and shake or tremble even when there are no signs of trouble.
  7. At times, things seem unreal or I feel detached from everything around me.
  8. I get aches or pains that can’t be traced to physical illness or injury.
  9. When other people look at me, I break out in a sweat and shake uncontrollably.
  10. I stay home from work or school because I'm afraid of being called on in a meeting or in class.
  11. I have nightmares.
  12. I unexpectedly get hot flashes or cold chills for no apparent reason.
  13. I get nausea or have stomach problems that are not caused by illness or a medical condition.
  14. I worry that I might lose control or do something that will be very embarrassing.
  15. I feel afraid and have difficulty catching my breath.
  16. I have unexpected spells of increased sensitivity to sound, light, or touch.
  17. I have frequent and sudden attacks of diarrhea.
  18. I get tired easily.
  19. I have difficulty falling asleep.
  20. I sleep restlessly and/or wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep.
  21. I have unexpected waves of depression that occur with little or no real provocation.

     If you score a total of 12 or more points on this Self Test, you may want to talk to a mental health professional about Anxiety Disorders