Bipolar Mood Monitoring

Monitoring our mood using bipolar mood scales or mood tracking apps can help us recognise Early Warning Signs, share mood patterns with friends, family and our medical professionals and can help minimise crises.

We had a very enjoyable and interactive meeting last Thursday evening, where we engaged in a group discussion about mood monitoring. Thank you all for your contributions!

We spoke about the importance of monitoring your mood to record and keep track of Early Warning Signs (EWS), which are internal feelings caused by triggers to stressful life events.

We shared examples of our personal EWS, such as changes in energy levels and/or daily activities, increased productivity, irritability, impulsiveness, and unexplained changes in sleep patterns e.g. difficulties sleeping with elevated mood and oversleeping when depressed.  Sociability, i.e. hiding away when depressed and being the life and soul of the party at the higher end of the mood scale.

An increase in alcohol/stimulant consumption or changes to our eating habits were EWS that many people could relate to. Losing your appetite or binge eating when low and not eating much if you’re running around when your mood is elevated was very common, as was overspending.

It's good practice to keep track of EWS, particularly when we're busy or stressed, and having an action plan in place may help prevent relapse or at least limit the damage which we often experience after a bipolar episode.  Many people said that mood monitoring was an important part of self-managing their bipolar, with some finding it equally as important as taking psychiatric medication.  

Some people noticed that their close family and friends could often sense when their mood was becoming unbalanced. However, their response to comments varied based on their mood and the person delivering the observation.

Other examples of EWS:

·       Struggling to take medication when mood is low or elevated

·       Talking more than usual

·       Physical health problems heralding changes in mood, e.g. Psoriasis, Eczema

We finished the discussion by sharing experiences regarding the different options for monitoring mood:

Bipolar Mood Scales

To rate mood daily and see patterns arising, so you can take early action.  

We have a supply of mood scales available at monthly meetings, and they can also be ordered for free on our website with free postage.

Mood diaries/Journals: Bipolar UK have a mood diary which can be downloaded here.

Bipolar Mood Tracker Apps

Bipolar UK Mood Tracker (free): track mood & sleep, collect data to share with family, GP, psychiatrist

EMoods mood tracker App 

Insight Timer - meditation app that targets sleep, anxiety and stress while promoting total relaxation.

Calm App – sleep stories, meditation & relaxation.

Headspace - a mental health app for guided meditations, mindfulness exercises, and sleep tools to help users reduce stress, improve sleep, and build resilience.

Daylio - Self-Care Bullet Journal with Goals, Mood Diary & Happiness Tracker

Finch App: self-care and productivity app that uses a virtual pet bird to encourage users to complete goals and engage in healthy habits, offering rewards and a sense of accomplishment.

Garmin Connect App – a free platform for tracking, analysing, and sharing health and fitness data, including sleep, from your Garmin device, allowing you to review activities, set goals, and connect with friends.  

Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences with mood scales and mood tracker apps at the meeting.

Hopefully these resources might prove useful for you in recognising Early Warning Signs, help with sharing mood patterns with friends, family and your medical professionals and may help you in self-managing to minimise potential crises.