In learning and understanding my condition I have begun to chart my moods. The thing that I have learned over time is that even though I'm charting I failed to understand what my moods meant. For the longest time what I considered to be "ok" or "normal" was actually mild depression. It didn't invalidate my charting but it gave the doctor a clearer picture of where our therapy needed to go. Needless to say, I was shocked..amazed...flabbergasted. This charting is not only helping me understand what is going on but it's also giving my doctor insight of what's going on with me. I realize that I'm an analytical personality and nothing makes me happier then charts and graphs but it has merit. I recall the first time he graphed my mood, I cried (not until after our session of course). At last, someone understood what it was like to be me and there it was on paper so that even I could get a clearer picture of what was going on inside.

To create my chart I made a table...the column headers included Date, Mood, Sleep, and Comments. Under mood I keep track of my irritability, anxiety and give a range of depression and euphoria, aiming for "normal". I realize this sounds complex but it's amazing that once you begin to use it and understanding that it can help with your progress just how committed you become. Journaling can accomplish the same thing but this is what worked for me. If you'd like a copy, let me know...I'd be happy to email it to anyone.

Yes, I'd like an email. I've been journaling for about 6 months and am frustrated when I show up at the doc's and can't draw any conclusions from the pages and pages of scribbles.

Andi's Mood Chart, attached.

I'm sorry, I had trouble reading it. It sounds good because Effexor didn't work for me, the doctor is pretty sure I'm bipolar. How did you measure mood, numbers 1 to 5 with 3 being "normal"? I'm not the analytical type, I still think I have ADD and have no idea how I'm going to keep up with charting. Maybe my hubby can do it.

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to come back and address this with you. I'll try to help if I can.

The chart is designed to track your mood morning, noon, and night. If you look at the chart you will see that there are two categories for mood.

One charts your anxiety/irritability in different columns using a 4-point scale (0=None, 1=Mild, 2=Moderate, and 3=Severe). So let's say that in the morning you are feeling anxious, first you would determine at which level, let's say moderately, and then place a 3 under the anx. column in the row marked morning.
anx.
3

Then you would determine if you are irritable, let's say no, in the same morning row you would then place a 0 under irrit.
irrit.
0

The other section is a check box system that determines your cycling. This helps track the state of depression, normalcy, or euphoria. Once you determine how you are feeling at that particular time of day you would place a check mark in the corresponding column and row.

The sleep cycle is also tracked as a check box system and depending on your schedule you can track this morning, noon, or night.

Always make comments to allow your doctor to see what it is that you are truly feeling. Like I stated before, I had no idea that what I perceived as normal was incorrect. Keep trying and if this doesn’t help let me know, I will do what I can to help.

I'd like to see your chart.

Could you post it here. If not, email it.

Thought I would share this, just found a site with pdf files on tracking mood swings:

http://www.psychiatry24x7.com/bgdisplay.jhtml?itemname=mooddiary

Thanks...... I've been wanting one of these to give to my husband....

My problem will be if I keep up with it, my determination is lacking, could not even stay on my diet of tracking what I was eating.

I have never tried writing down my moods before, and I have not read everything yet associated with the chart.