Tracking Symptoms for Medication Management:
Can Journaling Help?

Our lives can get hectic, checking in on how you are feeling and functioning often falls by the wayside. We can get so sidetracked with responsibilities and day to day tasks that we find very little time to care for ourselves. With self-care often being put on the back burner it is natural that we would begin to feel the impacts both physically and mentally. When you start to realize that you aren’t feeling at your best you may also begin to notice symptoms of conditions like depression and/or anxiety. 

If you are concerned about how you are feeling, psychiatric medication management could help. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, Bipolar Disorder etc. often respond well to medications in combination with therapy. There are many ways to get the most out of treatment, tracking your symptoms can improve your response to medication management tremendously!

What is Symptom Tracking? 

Symptom tracking is when you make a concerted effort to check in with yourself and document how you are feeling. It can be helpful to list your main symptoms and track their frequency and intensity each day. For example, tracking symptoms like sad mood, excessive worry, difficulty sleeping etc. As with any new healthy habit, it can take time to make this a daily practice, though it will likely be worth it. 

You can track your symptoms by simply listing them and rating their intensity from a 1-10. If you enjoy lists, you can make a list. If you prefer to journal this can also be incredibly helpful. Journaling doesn’t need to be an extensive process, it can simply be taking notes on what you are noticing so that you can communicate this with your prescriber. As long as you understand your tracking system and it works for you, you are on the right track.

The Benefits of Journaling

Don’t feel as if you have to have a “Dear Diary” moment each day. The act of checking in with yourself daily and documenting what you find can send a powerful message to yourself about your worth. When you show interest in yourself and your experience you are sending the message that you matter and you are important. This can help to boost wellness and self-esteem. 

Journaling or taking note of your wellbeing can also increase self-awareness. When you are more aware of what your “baseline” is you will be better able to notice when you aren’t feeling your best. When you have this awareness you can act. Early intervention often has better outcomes. 

When you have a record of your symptoms and how you are feeling you are also better able to communicate with your prescriber. The better picture your provider has of how you are doing, the better they can help. This will allow them to better monitor the effectiveness of your medication treatment plan and head off possible side effects. 

Finding the Prescriber That is Right For You

When you experience symptoms of mental health conditions you may be left not knowing where to turn. It can be easy to ignore symptoms at first, however, it’s important that you don’t wait until things become unmanageable before asking for help. Most conditions are treatable, psychiatric medication management can help. 

Carolina Counseling Services in Southern Pines contracts with skilled, licensed prescribers who care about you and your symptoms. Start getting the quality care you need and deserve. Online appointments are available making getting psychiatric medication management easier than ever before. Call CCS today to get started!