In the book "The Bipolar Workbook" there is a mood symptoms worksheet. It had a very comprehensive list of symptoms to chart--for ex. one that hits me is how noise affects you. When I'm manic I'm very easily distracted & find it hard to follow a conversation or to think when there is background noise.

You jot down what you are like in each category when manic, when depressed & when feeling ok. Then you can refer back to it if you feel an episode coming on, plus you can chart yourself every day.

The categories are:

Attitude toward self
Self-confidence
Usual activities
Social activities
Sleep habits
Appetite/eating habits
Concentration
Speed of thought
Creativity
Interest in having fun
Restlessness
Sense of humor
Energy level
How noise affects you
Outlook on the future
Speech patterns
Decision-making skills/I'd put in here about overspending/reckless behavior of all kinds
Concern for others
Thoughts about death
Ability to function
Other areas? I can think of one--stress

What changes do you notice first when you're getting depressed?

What changes do you notice first when you're getting manic?

What caused the mood shift?

--Suzy