For people who suffer from depression, bipolar, or other mood swing problems, managing the level of your moods is a vital component to evaluate which treatment options are working. Medication, therapy, exercise and nutrition all play a role in determining moods, as well as external factors like social situations and personal interactions. But without accurately documenting how these factors affect mood, it is often hard to decipher just what effect each has on recovery. By documenting your moods on a daily or weekly basis, you can begin to understand how each of these factors triggers moods and can decide which ones to altar, enhance or eliminate.
Mood trackers come in many shapes and sizes. Below are some of the different types of mood trackers and the benefits they can have on your recovery.
• Online mood trackers are available for free on many different health websites. These great tools will allow you to document your medication and moods, along with notes about specific things that occurred to trigger a mood. Many of these sites will send you a text message asking you about your mood at a particular time of the day. These tools are extremely easy to use, and the websites they are on will often provide useful tips to helping you address mood issues.
• Mood tracker applications are the newest type of mood evaluation tools. They are available for the I-phone and other smartphones, and can be downloaded for a minimal fee. Having a mood tracker available to you throughout the day is especially useful for people who have many highs and lows. This is also a great tool for people who find that they have various triggers, such as social settings or personal interactions that could raise anxiety or increase agitation. Being able to document and track these triggers on the go is a powerful way to recognize which triggers affect your moods the most.
• A journal or a notebook is another useful way to track your moods. If you are technologically challenged, or just prefer to use a journal, pick up a ledger or datebook from your local stationary store and begin documenting your mood, medication, therapy, and other factors, such as how much sleep and exercise you are getting. Be sure to record these on a daily basis to get the clearest picture of how they are all affecting your moods.
• Ask your family members or spouse to give you their input too. The people closest to you are usually the first ones to recognize when you are having a significant shift in mood. Although you may only be feeling a little off for a day or so, your spouse may notice that you have actually been down for several days longer. Experiencing mood swings can distort your perception of how severe your moods actually are. Encourage those closest to you to help you document your moods and you will have a much clearer picture of what is truly occurring.
• Share your mood tracker with your therapist. Most people only visit their therapist once or twice a week. It is very hard to recount every up and down you may have had since the last visit. And mood disorders can cloud memory and recall, so having a mood tracker handy is a great way to share that information with your clinician. By evaluating your mood tracker, your therapist may be able to identify certain triggers or factors that you may not be able to see, that directly impact your moods.
With the help of a mood tracker, you will be able to get a clear picture of where you've been and where you are today. Living with depression and severe moods can feel like an endless struggle. But being able to gauge your progress with a mood tracker, and getting the expert guidance of a licensed therapist, will provide motivation and encouragement on those especially difficult days.
Mood trackers come in many shapes and sizes. Below are some of the different types of mood trackers and the benefits they can have on your recovery.
• Online mood trackers are available for free on many different health websites. These great tools will allow you to document your medication and moods, along with notes about specific things that occurred to trigger a mood. Many of these sites will send you a text message asking you about your mood at a particular time of the day. These tools are extremely easy to use, and the websites they are on will often provide useful tips to helping you address mood issues.
• Mood tracker applications are the newest type of mood evaluation tools. They are available for the I-phone and other smartphones, and can be downloaded for a minimal fee. Having a mood tracker available to you throughout the day is especially useful for people who have many highs and lows. This is also a great tool for people who find that they have various triggers, such as social settings or personal interactions that could raise anxiety or increase agitation. Being able to document and track these triggers on the go is a powerful way to recognize which triggers affect your moods the most.
• A journal or a notebook is another useful way to track your moods. If you are technologically challenged, or just prefer to use a journal, pick up a ledger or datebook from your local stationary store and begin documenting your mood, medication, therapy, and other factors, such as how much sleep and exercise you are getting. Be sure to record these on a daily basis to get the clearest picture of how they are all affecting your moods.
• Ask your family members or spouse to give you their input too. The people closest to you are usually the first ones to recognize when you are having a significant shift in mood. Although you may only be feeling a little off for a day or so, your spouse may notice that you have actually been down for several days longer. Experiencing mood swings can distort your perception of how severe your moods actually are. Encourage those closest to you to help you document your moods and you will have a much clearer picture of what is truly occurring.
• Share your mood tracker with your therapist. Most people only visit their therapist once or twice a week. It is very hard to recount every up and down you may have had since the last visit. And mood disorders can cloud memory and recall, so having a mood tracker handy is a great way to share that information with your clinician. By evaluating your mood tracker, your therapist may be able to identify certain triggers or factors that you may not be able to see, that directly impact your moods.
With the help of a mood tracker, you will be able to get a clear picture of where you've been and where you are today. Living with depression and severe moods can feel like an endless struggle. But being able to gauge your progress with a mood tracker, and getting the expert guidance of a licensed therapist, will provide motivation and encouragement on those especially difficult days.