Symptoms of Abuse Scale Directions, Practice Sheets

Symptoms of Abuse Scale Directions Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior in an intimate relationship that is used to obtain and maintain power and control over an intimate partner. Stress is often the result of this abuse. The Symptoms of Abuse Scale is designed to help you explore different types of symptoms that you may be experiencing that are related to stress. This booklet contains statements that are divided into four categories. Read each of the statements and decide how descriptive the statement is of you. In each of the choices listed, circle the number of your response on the line to the right of each statement. In the following example, the circled 1 indicates that the statement is not at all descriptive of the person completing the inventory: A Lot Somewhat A Little Like Me Like Me Like Me Not Like Me I. I find that . . . I feel detached from other people around me 4 3 2 1 This is not a test and there are no right or wrong answers. Do not spend too much time thinking about your answers. Your initial response will be the most true for you. Be sure to respond to every statement. (Turn to the next page and begin) Symptoms of Abuse Scale A Lot Somewhat A Little Not Like Me Like Me Like Me Like Me I. I find that . . . I feel detached from other people around me 4 3 2 1 I have lost interest in important social activities 4 3 2 1 I have lost interest in my job 4 I have lost interest in hobbies and sports 3 4 2 3 1 2 1 I avoid activities or places that remind me of the abuse 4 3 2 1 I avoid people or conversations that remind me of the abuse 4 3 2 1 I have difficulty being around my friends I try to avoid feelings that remind me of the abuse 4 3 4 2 3 1 2 1 DETACHED TOTAL = __________ A Lot Somewhat A Little Not Like Me Like Me Like Me Like Me II. I find that . . . I have frequent headaches I am jumpy if startled by sudden noises 4 3 4 2 3 1 2 1 I have recurring panic attacks 4 3 2 1 I often have an upset stomach 4 3 2 1 I am experiencing a decrease or increase of appetite 4 I am tired a lot of the time I frequently have a dry mouth or throat I often feel anxious 3 4 2 3 4 3 4 1 2 1 2 3 1 2 1 PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS TOTAL = __________ (Continued on the next page) (Symptoms of Abuse Scale, continued) A Lot Somewhat A Little Not Like Me Like Me Like Me Like Me III.I find that . . . I think about the abuse a lot of the time 4 3 I get mental pictures of the abuse without being reminded of it I am unable to remember parts of the abuse I am unable to remember my life during the abuse I have sudden flashbacks of the abuse 4 4 4 3 1 2 1 3 4 2 3 4 1 1 2 4 I relive the abuse in my mind 2 2 3 4 1 3 3 I have difficulty falling asleep I have a hard time concentrating 2 1 2 3 1 2 1 COGNITIVE TOTAL = __________ A Lot Somewhat A Little Not Like Me Like Me Like Me Like Me IV.I find that . . . I feel numb emotionally 4 I feel guilty about the abuse I have bad dreams and nightmares 2 3 4 1 3 4 4 1 2 4 I don’t know who to trust 1 2 3 I get emotionally upset when I think about the abuse I am on guard most of the time 3 4 2 3 3 1 2 2 1 1 I am irritable a lot of the time 4 3 2 1 I have feelings of hopelessness 4 3 2 1 EMOTIONS TOTAL = __________ (Go to the Scoring Directions on the next page) Symptoms of Abuse Scale Scoring Directions The Symptoms of Abuse Scale is designed to measure the severity and the nature of the symptoms of the abuse you are currently experiencing. For each of the four sections on the previous pages, count the scores you circled for each of the eight items. Put that total on the line marked “Total” at the end of each section. Then, transfer your totals to the spaces below: I. DETACHED TOTAL = II. PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS TOTAL __________ = __________ III. COGNITIVE TOTAL = __________ IV. EMOTIONS TOTAL = __________ Profile Interpretation TOTAL SCALES SCORES RESULT Scores from 25 to 32 High You have many of the symptoms of extreme stress. You need to do much more to eliminate some of the stress in your life. Scores from 16 to 24 Moderate You have some of the symptoms of extreme stress. You need to do more to eliminate some of the stress in your life. Low You may not have any or you may have a few of the symptoms of extreme stress. You may not need to do anything if you have a very low score, or it may help you to do a little to eliminate some stress in your life. Scores from 8 to 15 INDICATIONS For scales which you scored in the Moderate or High range, find the descriptions on the pages that follow. Read the description and complete the exercises that are included. No matter how you scored, low, moderate or high, you will benefit from these exercises. Symptoms of Abuse Scale Profile Interpretation (Continued) I. DETACHED People who are experiencing extreme stress are often detached and have lost interest in life. You possibly have lost interest in activities that are important to you like your job, school, hobbies, sports, house-of-worship or spiritual activities and/or social activities. You may feel cut off and disconnected from people and have trouble being around friends and family. Who are some of the people from whom you feel disconnected? ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ List some of the things you have normally done that you no longer feel like doing. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ What activities do you especially miss being involved in? ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________