Thread: Mood Diaries
View Single Post
 
Old Mar 14, 2010, 02:49 PM
grizmom's Avatar
grizmom grizmom is offline
Grand Member
 
Member Since: Mar 2010
Location: near the river
Posts: 546
I was wondering if anyone else keeps a mood diary? I started keeping one about 6 weeks ago, and although I didn't think it would help me at all, it turns out that it helps a lot! I looked at some online ones, but the problem with them (for me) is that they only give you one mood to pick from for the entire day, and my mood and my anxiety shift throughout the day. I typed up a simple daily sheet to fill in and then took it to a copy shop and got copies, and I use a three hole punch and keep them in a binder. It's helpful to be able to look back, especially when I'm depressed, because sometimes I feel like things aren't getting better when they actually are. I also have noticed some trends in my moods and anxiety levels (I tend to be more anxious and depressed at night). I just have the following on my daily sheet:

Date
Wake up time
Energy Level AM
Energy Level afternoon
Energy Level PM
Am Meds
Afternoon Meds
Pm Meds
OTC Meds
Anxiety AM
Anxiety afternoon
Anxiety PM
Mood AM
Mood afternoon
Mood PM
Nap/Rest (time and duration)
Bedtime
Notes

I rank my anxiety as: none, very mild, mild, mild - moderate, moderate, moderate - severe, or severe.
For my moods I do pretty much the same thing; I rate the hypomania or depression in the above categories or as baseline. I also note if I'm feeling bored or frustrated or irritable or anything with my mood.

I just wanted to put the idea out for you all, I encourage you to give it a try for a couple of weeks and see if it helps you at all.
__________________
From the movie The Hours: "If I were thinking clearly, Leonard, I would tell you that I wrestle alone in the dark, in the deep dark, and that only I can know. Only I can understand my condition. You live with the threat, you tell me you live with the threat of my extinction. Leonard, I live with it too."

My blog, "Life and Other Annoyances": http://jennikj.blogspot.com/


Thanks for this!
Julial