How This Information Can Help
The information we record can go a long way in aiding our treatment. My graphs showed I was rapid cycling and continued to do so with mood stabilizing medication. This was therefore changed and my mood highs and lows began to lessen.
It also became evident I was not eating properly and restricting my diet. I was referred to a CBT eating disorder specialist who worked with me for two years. I am now in remission.
It was also apparent that one of my ongoing stress triggers was my family because they didn’t understand my condition. As a result they were invited to part of my sessions to gain a better understanding of my signs and symptoms and how they could help.
At one point my hours of sleep were too low so I was prescribed sleeping tablets and provided with sleep hygiene information. As you can see, there are huge advantages to monitoring your moods and sharing them with medical professionals.
Ultimately, any information we record is hugely beneficial to our health, wellbeing and treatment. After seven years of battling bipolar with numerous medication complications, struggles, relapses and inpatient stays, I can now identity my signs and symptoms and feel happy to record these.
Even in my worst moments I remind myself that I can have control and I can empower myself through gathering information.
There are so many available mood charts and apps available that it is easy for us to complete something that will aid our recovery. Treatment is not one sided, and whilst we do need best nursing practice in terms of listening to our concerns, we need to help them also. We should attempt to provide both quantitative and qualitative data for them using simple and easy mood monitoring techniques.
I can’t recommend mood monitoring enough to prevent crisis, manage wellbeing and aid recovery — using whatever tools that work for you.
