Mood Logs or Charting

I want to do a chart or log for my T. I've found a few printable ones on the net but I'm going to make my own. My moods change drastically and often so it will be a several times a day log rather than a daily log. Does any one else do this?

*sigh* I wish we could hurry up and figure me out!

I don't have any experience with charting my moods, Liberada. I want to try it, though. I'm like you. I would need something that charts changes throughout the day. Once a day wouldn't be enough because most days I tend to feel better the longer I'm awake. If you find something that works for you, can you tell me about it?

Sounds like a great idea...don't know if I could make myself do it just yet though...but good luck and let me know how it helps!!!

Here is a Wellness Toolbox I came across a long time ago. This place has a lot of neat resources also. Hope this helps.. Look around there are different things you can print out and work on to see if it helps you out/ works for you or not. Take care!!

http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/Page...mpower_toolbox

Hugz
Bethy

Hi Liberata,

I'm sorry I can't help you with charting, but I wanted to tell you that change doesn't happen over night. Be gentle with yourself and know that all of us are wroks in progress.

Hugs,

Jan

Hi Lib,
I understand NAMI has some good mood chart booklets. You might contact them at nami.org.

Don't chart myself..
Take care,
Okie

i did daily mood charting when i did dbt. daily mood charting was especially helpful for seeing that my moods often plummet for a couple days right before i get my period. just knowing that kinda helps because i know that it is a time when i just need to b gentle with myself and it will pass in a couple days.

my t said that when she was training as a dbt therapist she did mood ratings every few waking hours for a week. that can be helpful for figuring out whether there are any patterns around when you feel better or worse.

figuring out what else is going on can be hardest. but if you see your mood is lowest before meals then it might be that hunger (or low blood sugar) is a factor. if you feel happy after exercise then that can be useful to know that when you notice yourself feeling bad excercise might be able to help you feel better.

I have been my charting daily since January 1. I bought a calendar that has plenty of room and I rate myself each night on different scales. I use 1-10. 10 being the worse ever and 1 being the best ever. I rate my level of depression, level of intrusive thoughts and level of suicidal ideation. At the bottom I list my various moods and say a note or two about my day. I have found it to be great for giving me a realistic picture about how "good" or "bad" I am doing. Sometimes I think I am doing horrible, but I look at the chart and realize it has only been for a day or two. It has helped me see the big picture of my mood swings.

Hey,

If it helps any I've used: http://www.mypsychtracker.com/ in the past. you can rate on whatever you want, and can do it multiple times per day.

i chart my moods and also keep track in a loga nd it helps me explain my moods to the doctor. usually i forget what i want to ask or how i feel so it helps out alot.

my counselor and I make up our own charts. we decide which feeling we want to keep track of and write it on a paper then along the side list what about that feeling you are watching and then on the bottom we write yes, no, rarely, sometimes always and never. then we take a ruler and just draw lines down and across so that each thing listed on the side is in its own row and the answers all have thei own vertical column. then all i have to do is read the list, follow across and put an ex in the right "box".

Before I start writing on it we make copies so that I have many sheets for checking in with myself as many times a day or week that I want to.

I found an extensive one in "The Bipolar Workbook." It helps indentify triggers & when you are cycling. It covers things that are not on most mood charts--like how your exposure to noise affects you. When manic I cannot concentrate on one person in a restaurant, say, cuz there is too much background noise. I literally see her lips moving, but the words don't compute in my brain. I often just keep on nodding cuz I don't understand what she is saying.

On the top write 4 different headers: Category, When manic, When depressed, When feeling ok.

Then under categories write:

Mood
Attitude
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 ability
Concern for others
Thoughts about death
Ability to function
Other areas: could include alcohol or drug use, smoking, ability to handle crisis, etc.

What changes do you notice when you're getting depressed? What changes do you notice first when you're getting manic? What caused the mood shift (if you can identify the trigger)?

Once you've determined how these areas are affected by your mood, you can write down daily how you are doing in each area & maybe see that a depression or mania is approaching & you can call your pdoc & get some advice.--Suzy