The little thing called Sanvello

If we're going to get out of this thing together we're going to need you to track your moods.
I use Sanvello for this. I have tracked my moods since Dec 2018. It has been extremely helpful.
Sanvello has a scale. I've recently developed my own scale for my own therapist -- emoji hearts, adapted from the ones on instagram.
The Sanvello scale looks like this: Awful, bad, not good, okay, good, very good, great. For me, if I'm actively suicidal that's an automatic awful. If I'm flittering suicidal thoughts through my head, it's an automatic bad. If I'm horribly depressed, that's a not good. My standard is an ok. It's my baseline. I'm not actively thinking about my emotions, either good or bad. Occasionally, I get a good, meaning I feel hopeful and positive. Maybe even a little happy. But that's pretty much it.

To be fair, you can use whatever mood tracker you want. I just like Sanvello.

Tracking your moods is helpful for a couple reasons.

1. Once you've fallen down a hole you always tell yourself, it wasn't that bad. Well, now you know it was. You have proof.
2. On that note, you have PROOF. You can show your doctor, your therapist, your caseworker, your mother, whoever! They can see where you're coming from.
3. You can find patterns. Always feel suicidal right before your period? Now you can be ready. Feel the best in your life only to be followed by a crash the day after? Now you know. Always depressed at night? Now its obvious.
4. You can add notes for triggers, exact thoughts, and precise moods.
5. Sanvello also has a section where you can track your sleep, food intake, exercise, and many other things. This is also helpful in figuring out what bothers you the most.

Tracking your moods is so crucial. You really must start!

~ Emery