I've been trying to come up with a way to keep track of good days/bad days. I think your color coding idea is fantastic! Thank you so much for posting this wonderful idea.
Thanks for the support an info.. I didn't see any way to make my blog private here in the panic center. I know you can make your blog private in the depression center because it uses a whole different format.. So I will think about using the symptom tracker instead unless you know of a way to make my blog private on the system used by the panic center..
Anyway not to worry..If I really want to start a private journal there are other avenues that I can use anyway..Like starting one on my laptop.
In answer to your question about what I would like to get out of journaling..I would like my journal to be a place where I can reflect on my day or past week so that I can see what direction I have been going in..and make changes as necessary. I would also like to journal about the goals I am working on and the progress I am making too..I plan on making this a very positive journal about my life, my hopes and dreams..A place where I can write about all the exciting adventures in life..
Thats the idea I had in mind for my journal...Something I can look back on that makes me feel good about me...
Red, You can make the blog in the program private so only you can read it if you want. You can also use the Symptom tracker in the program that no one else can see. In regards to tips it depends on what you want to to get out of journalling. Would you like your journal to be a place to vent, to reflect, to set goals, to monitor symptoms, to pin point triggers? What would you like to get out of journalling?
Davit, great tips! Thanks for sharing.
Sunny, that sounds like a great way to use a journal.
I've kept three journals in my computer. One when I was helping a friend from the psych ward so I could keep things in order and since I am vicarious I wanted to know how helping some one else was affecting me. She is back at work, has a boyfriend and now we only Email to keep in contact and keep up with family and friends. That one was every day for over eight months.
Another was a year of keeping track of life and it's effects. That one was colour coded so I could see effects at a glance. It was to see the effects of food and medication, and exposure. I learned to do this when I charted my Arthritis. This one also had an activity/pain graph attached. Also colour coded an monthly.
The final one is just a storey of my life for comparison. For this one I found my memories don't always match my photo album. (looking for a reason for my core beliefs.) I wonder if others have found this.
Yes, when I am upset or can't figure things out, I journal. I read it again after a few days or weeks. Sometimes I see a pattern, sometimes not. Sometimes I see the pain I went through and realize how strong I really am.
Great idea..I have been thinking about starting a journal lately..Do you have any tips on how to get started? They would be greatly appreciated..
I do not want to use my blog as a place to journal so that idea is out. I don't like the idea of others commenting on it..For me it is a very personal thing..Just a place where I am free to get my thoughts and feeling out without worrying about what others think of feel about these thoughts... I think this idea of journaling might help me sort things out..
Did you know: Journaling your daily anxiety, triggers and mood helps to reveal problem areas (such as stresses and emotions that may lead to a panic attack) and is the first step towards improving behaviour.
