I'm currently using mood charts that track mania/depression and also anxiety and irritability (which are all major factors for me). I'm open to any other recommendations you might have! I've also tried journaling but I find that I'm too ashamed to write about myself in an "up close and personal" way. Mood charts work for me because they're pretty clinical and detached.


Thankfully I had stumbled upon the idea of mood charts about 6 months before I could start with my psychiatrist, so that really helped with the diagnosis (I had both mixed and depressive episodes during the time). I'm also starting to understand some of my triggers, although the big challenge now is how to deal with the ones I can't avoid (lack of sleep due to kids, stress due to traveling for work, etc.).