Posted by MA on April 5, 2000, at 23:50:54
In reply to Re: Keeping Track of Progress, posted by allisonm on April 5, 2000, at 21:26:29
Same as Allison...
I write in a journal and I have been doing this for many years and I'm someone who never kept a journal before I was treated for depression.
Actually I had such problems with medications that I kept a record of what I was on, what dosage, how I felt, when it was increased, etc.
When I was really having a hard time remembering things, I would take the journal when I went to see my pdoc to remind myself of how I was feeling day to day. I don't know about many of you, but I have a very short memory for things and I could never be very specific with my doctor. So I would write down things like if I felt my heart was racing, if I couldn't sleep, if I couldn't eat, if I had no energy or motivation, etc. Notes like this are invaluable when speaking to your doctor.
I still have the journal and I write very brief notes if things are going well. For example: "On wellbutrin 150, Celexa 30, Neurontin 400, good energy, working X hours/week, sleeping well, and any other details you think are important to remember.
If things start going badly, the notes increase dramatically and I know my meds need adjusting.
YOu really should try it for awhile, especially during drug trials.
MA
poster:MA
thread:28777
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000401/msgs/29040.html