MOOD CHARTS AND JOURNALS

[bernie40]

I just wanted to post that I think it is best to complete a mood chart and journal at the end of a day rather than at the beginning.  I just think that this is going to be a more accurate way of doing things as how we feel in the morning may or may not be how the rest of the day pans out, imho!

What do others think?

[skram]

well this week i have been tracking my mood in the evening and seems to make a bit of a difference, i usually find if i have woken in a stressed out mood, i tend to stay that way all day!!!! am starting to feel a lot better and have had a busy couple of days so am shattered now but feeling sort of human again

[bernie40]

I very rarely remember my dreams nowadays, since being on sleeping tablets, so my dreams don't consciously determine my mood in the mornings - unfortunately its the chemicals in the brain that do that, lol!

[888mom]

Well, when I have dreams about T-Rexes or veloceraptors hunting me down to eat me all night long, I usually wake up pretty stressed out.  When people are trying to kill me in my dreams, or chase me down to throw me in an oven because they are witches and want to eat me. Some dreams I have people putting me down in wierd ways, and that gets depressing.  Keep in mind these are dreams... well, anyways, I have lots of scary dreams.  WHen I have good happy dreams... which is not often... I wake up in a good mood then.  

[lonewolf07]

Interesting to hear that others find mornings the worst - so do I.  One thing about the trackers was that my moods would change during the day.  Not to a drastic extent but they did change.  Maybe assessing these moods at night would make a more accurate "average".

I wonder why mornings are the worst time.  Dreams?  It sure isn't faking.

[bernie40]

Thanks for your responses.  I think rliz makes a very good point about mornings tending to be particularly bad for those with mood disorders/depression.

I think the journal is the ideal place for noting how your moods have changed throughout the day for the most accurate picture.  

I tend to look back on the day and put down the "average" of my moods.

[idesofmarch]

Most definiently.  I agree