How to Chart Bipolar Cycles

Mood charts can be an important tool in managing bipolar disorder. A mood chart is a graphic record of your moods over a period of time. These charts can help you identify cycle frequency, triggers and other signs of mood change. Mood charts also allow you to report symptoms and cycle length more accurately to your therapist.

Instructions

• 1

  Get a mood chart from your therapist or psychiatrist or make your own. Your therapist may have a particular mood chart that they'd like you to use. If not, you can make one yourself with a simple calendar or date book. With your own, you can make your chart as simple or sophisticated as you want.

• 2

  Rate your mood for the day as depressed, elevated or within normal limits. You can use a simple system of pluses and minuses, a scale (like one to ten), or any other system that works for you. Some mood charts come with category descriptions to help you decide what to mark. If more than one mood was present during a day, make note of both.

• 3

  Record the medications that you take each day. Include how much of the medication you took and when you took each dose as well. This information will be important if you need to adjust medication or dosage.

• 4

  Note any event that seemed to contribute to your mood. Include important life events and trivial things if they appear to have made a difference. Note stressful events and include any information that might be helpful such as the hours of sleep you got or weather changes.

• 5

  Make filling out the chart a habit. You may want to have a set time for filling the mood chart out like right before bed. You can also fill the information out as you go through the day. Making this a habit increases the information you can get from the chart.

• 6

  Share your chart with your psychiatrist and review the information yourself. Over time, patterns will develop that can help you recognize symptoms and individual triggers.