A scale of 1-10 doesn't make any sense to me because there are many different things that go on when I'm depressed. for example one day I can be depressed but yet be interested in doing things that I normally do, or be depressed but yet not have any thoughts of planning a suicide.

So what I do is the depression inventory in the book Mind over mood. it has 19 specific questions of each depression symptom and you rate it by 0, 1, 2, 3 for not at all, sometimes, frequently and most of the time.

to score it you add up your numbers. the higher the number the more depressed you are.

By having the specific questions I can see right away where my depression is focused which makes it easier to take care of it.

I kept track every day for a month (both good days and bad days which gave me a base area for each of where I am. This way I can see right away when my depression is kicking back in, alot of times before I even am able to tell feelings wise.