Mind-Body Symptoms Self-Quiz

Not all chronic pain or illness is caused by structural damage, organ disease, or pathogens.

Mind-Body symptoms are very real, physical symptoms. However, they are generated by pathways in the brain rather than structural damage in the body or disease.

Because they are learned and activated by the brain and nervous system, they can be unlearned.

This simple quiz will help you understand if your symptoms fit this profile. Your results could be the first step toward effective and lasting recovery. As you go through the quiz, just keep a rough sense of how many “Yes” answers you have in each section—you don’t need to be exact.

1. Has your doctor completed diagnostic testing without finding a definite cause for your pain or illness?
40% of people who see a doctor have Mind-Body Symptoms (Mind-Body Symptoms). When a complete medical evaluation is normal, the probability of MBS is much higher than 40%.

1. Has your doctor completed diagnostic testing without finding a definite cause for your pain or illness?40% of people who see a doctor have Mind-Body Symptoms (Mind-Body Symptoms). When a complete medical evaluation is normal, the probability of MBS is much higher than 40%.

yes

2. Has a physician diagnosed your symptoms as being caused by organ disease or structural damage, but your condition has not improved as expected, after surgery, medication treatment, and/or ample time to heal?
In some people, pain or illness fails to improve because MBS are contributing. Healing of most physical injuries is complete in 6 weeks or less.

2. Has a physician diagnosed your symptoms as being caused by organ disease or structural damage, but your condition has not improved as expected, after surgery, medication treatment, and/or ample time to heal?In some people, pain or illness fails to improve because MBS are contributing. Healing of most physical injuries is complete in 6 weeks or less.

yes

3. Have you had more than one symptom for longer than six months?
The more symptoms you have and the longer they persist, the more likely MBS are contributing. However, many people with MBS have just one pain or illness.

3. Have you had more than one symptom for longer than six months?The more symptoms you have and the longer they persist, the more likely MBS are contributing. However, many people with MBS have just one pain or illness.

yes

4. Are your symptoms located in different areas of the body, or do they move to different locations?
The more different places you have symptoms, the more likely MBS are contributing. Symptoms that change their location often are linked to MBS.

4. Are your symptoms located in different areas of the body, or do they move to different locations?The more different places you have symptoms, the more likely MBS are contributing. Symptoms that change their location often are linked to MBS.

yes

5. Are your symptoms increased by stress or thinking about stressful situations?
When this is true, MBS are likely contributing to your condition.

5. Are your symptoms increased by stress or thinking about stressful situations?When this is true, MBS are likely contributing to your condition.

yes

6. Would you describe yourself as highly detail-oriented, highly self-critical, a perfectionist, or do you routinely put the needs of others ahead of your own needs?
These personality traits are often acquired from Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), which can be anything you would never want a child of your own to go through. Fortunately, these issues can be successfully treated.

6. Would you describe yourself as highly detail-oriented, highly self-critical, a perfectionist, or do you routinely put the needs of others ahead of your own needs?These personality traits are often acquired from Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), which can be anything you would never want a child of your own to go through. Fortunately, these issues can be successfully treated.

yes

7. Are people who caused stress for you as a child still active in your life?
Setting boundaries to limit this stress can be challenging. This can lead to MBS. Fortunately, this issue can be successfully treated.

7. Are people who caused stress for you as a child still active in your life?Setting boundaries to limit this stress can be challenging. This can lead to MBS. Fortunately, this issue can be successfully treated.

yes

8. Have you experienced a significant amount of stress in your life recently?
High levels of stress are common in people with MBS. Symptoms often improve if the stressors are reduced.

8. Have you experienced a significant amount of stress in your life recently? High levels of stress are common in people with MBS. Symptoms often improve if the stressors are reduced.

yes

9. In the last two weeks, have you often felt nervous, on edge, or found it difficult to stop or control worrying?
These experiences can reflect ongoing stress or heightened tension in the mind and body, which can worsen MBS.

9. In the last two weeks, have you often felt nervous, on edge, or found it difficult to stop or control worrying?These experiences can reflect ongoing stress or heightened tension in the mind and body, which can worsen MBS.

yes

10. In the last two weeks, have you often felt little interest or pleasure in doing things, or felt down or low in mood?
These experiences can reflect emotional heaviness or reduced motivation, which may impact overall well-being and can worsen MBS.

10. In the last two weeks, have you often felt little interest or pleasure in doing things, or felt down or low in mood?These experiences can reflect emotional heaviness or reduced motivation, which may impact overall well-being and can worsen MBS.

yes

11. Did your symptoms begin soon after a terrifying, traumatic, or horrifying event or after a triggering event that may be linked to that trauma?
Past events that continue to impact you in the present are a common cause of MBS.

11. Did your symptoms begin soon after a terrifying, traumatic, or horrifying event or after a triggering event that may be linked to that trauma?Past events that continue to impact you in the present are a common cause of MBS.

yes

12. If you learned that a child you care about was experiencing everything you went through as a child, how would this make you feel?
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can leave a lasting impact, whether they are obvious or difficult to recall. All ACEs can contribute to MBS in adults.

12. If you learned that a child you care about was experiencing everything you went through as a child, how would this make you feel?Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can leave a lasting impact, whether they are obvious or difficult to recall. All ACEs can contribute to MBS in adults.

happy