Why Mood Tracking Matters in Depression Care

One of the most overlooked aspects of managing depression is self-awareness. While medications and therapy form the foundation of treatment, what often empowers recovery is something far simpler: tracking your own patterns.

Mood tracking is more than just filling boxes on a chart—it’s about connecting the dots between your emotions, lifestyle, and treatment adherence. It gives both you and your mental health professional a clearer picture of what’s helping, what’s not, and where to focus next.

Introducing the Weekly Mood Chart

To support my patients and caregivers in their recovery journey, I’ve developed a simple, printable Weekly Mood Chart. It’s tailored specifically for those living with depression and aims to be:

• 🕒 Quick to fill out – just 2–3 minutes a day

• 🔍 Comprehensive – captures mood, sleep, energy, medication adherence, and life events

• 📈 Insightful – with a reflection section that promotes awareness and action

What It Tracks

Each day, you record:

• Mood (on a 1–10 scale)

• Sleep hours

• Whether you took your medication

• Energy levels

• Key notes – e.g., events, stressors, things that helped

At the end of the week, a short reflection section helps you process your week and flag any early warning signs—such as increasing low mood or thoughts of self-harm.

How It Helps

✔️ You spot triggers – like sleep changes or missed meds
✔️ We spot patterns – like improving energy with exercise
✔️ You become more engaged in your care
✔️ We can intervene earlier if symptoms worsen

Think of it as your mental health thermometer—a way to measure how you’re really doing, beyond what’s visible in a single appointment.

Who Should Use This?

• ✅ Individuals under treatment for depression

• ✅ Caregivers who want to understand the patient’s week better

• ✅ Therapists or psychiatrists monitoring treatment progress

• ✅ Anyone looking to improve self-awareness around their emotions

🧾 Download the Mood Chart (Free)

Click below to download your printable A4 chart:

👉 Download Weekly Mood Chart – Depression Monitoring PDF

This version includes:

• 7-day mood tracking table

• Reflection section

• Easy rating scales

• My full contact details for continuity of care

If you’d like this tool customized with your therapist’s logo or adapted into a digital tracking sheet or mobile-friendly version, feel free to contact me.

 

Dr. Srinivas Rajkumar T, MBBS, MD (AIIMS, New Delhi)
Consultant Psychiatrist, Apollo Clinics – Velachery & Tambaram
Child, Adolescent, Adult & Geriatric Psychiatry | Deaddiction Services

📞 +91-8595155808
🌐 www.srinivasaiims.com