[ChaoticSymphony]

I was wondering if anyone had any tips for how to fill out mood charts. Like what is the best time of day? Is it an overall mood of the day or just the troublesome parts? Should you include life instances when considering your mood? Any tips would help thank you in advance.

[gayleggg]

I would use one that allowed me to record my moods at least twice a day and had the option to make notes to reference life instances when they seem to make a difference in your mood. iMoodJournal app for the phone is pretty good. It also allows for exporting to pdf for sharing with your care team.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I do a daily diary card for my DBT group and I do it at night so I can think back over the day and get a good solid rating. Its simple and part of my routine now.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I also use imood journal and like it because I can record as many times as I want. So while I'm mixed I am noting most of the changes so that my therapist and pdoc can see exactly how pulled in a zillion directions I am. I use google sheets to make the data I download into charts and then print them. The program reminds you 3 times per day to record (if you can at that time) and you can do it as often as you want.

I had a great deal of difficulty in the past with paper charts because I couldn't pick one or two descriptors for days when I am really bad because I have mixed dysphoric manias and I change a lot. So I've refused to chart since 2002 but now that I am doing it on my phone it is easy.

[~Christina]

I chart based on an over all mood.. If I charted numerous times a day it would just be a back and forth of good and bad. I chart right before bed, takes me just a couple mins.

Its easy to over chart your moods,, If that makes sense

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I never could figure out once a day charting because my days are both up and down. So a 9 and a 3 are just as likely and can last as long as each other. Right now it does look like sharp ups and downs; I think the goal is probably slow and gradually and moving more around about 4-7 instead of shooting to the top.

How do you choose your daily number? How you feel that momet? an overall average? Ack, I start getting stressed just thining of it

[WorkhorseDVM]

I chart once a day at night, occasionally more than that. I consider the whole day and sort of average it, unless something out of the ordinary happened, or just when I am charting happens (spouse yelling) then it tends to be how I am at that moment and I include notes.