In my therapy sessions, patients are often frustrated about their psychiatric appointments, saying, “I don’t know if I’m explaining this right,” or “What if I forgot something important?” It’s a common concern, and for good reason. Psychiatry is the last field of medicine that still relies almost entirely on self-report—your words and descriptions—to diagnose and treat. Unlike other medical specialties, there are no blood tests, scans, or biomarkers to definitively “see” what’s going on inside your brain.
This reliance on self-report can make psychiatric care feel subjective and imprecise. But there’s a way to make your voice as accurate and effective as possible: mood charting and detailed note-taking. Let’s dive into why this matters so much and how to make it work for you.
The Trouble with Self-Report
Imagine if cardiologists treated heart disease without scans or blood tests, relying solely on a patient saying, “Sometimes my chest hurts.” It sounds ridiculous, right? Yet, in psychiatry, this is the norm.
Self-report relies on memory and self-awareness, two things that can be tricky when you’re in the middle of a mood episode. Mania can make everything feel fine—even when it’s not—while depression can make things seem worse than they are. Add to that the time lag between appointments, and it’s easy for important details to slip through the cracks.
This isn’t just frustrating—it can impact your treatment. If your psychiatrist doesn’t have the full picture, it’s harder for them to adjust your medications or develop an effective plan.
Mood Charting: Your Secret Weapon
In my rooms, I always recommend mood charting to patients who feel unsure about what to share with their psychiatrist. Think of it as your personal data tracker. By recording your mood, energy levels, sleep, and any other symptoms daily, you’re creating a clear picture of your experiences.
Mood charts do two critical things:
Reduce Guesswork: Instead of relying on memory, you have objective records to share. This helps your psychiatrist connect the dots and spot patterns.
Empower You: When you chart regularly, you start to see trends. This awareness can help you take action earlier, whether it’s scheduling a check-in or adjusting your routine.
Take Notes Like You’re Running a Meeting
Here’s another game-changer: approach your appointments like you’re running a meeting. Bring an agenda and detailed notes.
What to include:
Mood Highlights: What’s been stable? What’s been challenging?
Medication Effects: Any side effects, improvements, or concerns?
Questions: What do you want to ask about your treatment plan?
Using an appointment checklist is an easy way to ensure you don’t miss important details. It keeps your thoughts organized and helps you make the most of every session with your psychiatrist or prescriber.
To make this even simpler, you can download the My Bipolar Therapy Session Note Taker here for free. It’s designed to help you track your mood, list questions, and highlight the key points to discuss—all in one place. With this tool, you can walk into every session feeling prepared and confident.
When you’re organised, your psychiatrist can spend less time deciphering and more time helping. It’s like handing them the map to your brain instead of making them guess the route.
Why This Matters
Your psychiatrist wants to help, but they can only work with what you give them. By charting your mood and keeping detailed notes, you’re bridging the gap between subjective self-report and actionable data. It’s the closest thing psychiatry has to “scanning the organ,” and it puts you in control of your care.
Ready to sharpen your tools and make the most of your treatment? Let’s work together on strategies that help you communicate with your care team effectively. Book a session, and let’s turn your notes into a roadmap for success. 📋✨
