Ever since I was discharged from the inpatient psychiatric program at Johns Hopkins, I have kept a mood journal where I daily record the amount of hours I sleep, my mood (rating it a fantastic and serene no. 1 to a frazzled, and I’m-headed-back-to-the-community-room no. 5), any foods that have triggered hyperactivity or irritability (such as a triple espresso and half of a chocolate-mousse pie), my anxiety level, any medication and vitamin/supplement changes, and a list of things I’m obsessing about: weight, job, friends, sisters, yada yada yada.
My journal looks like my house: messy … dangerously messy. I scribble something down and then Katherine gets a hold of the pad and draws a mermaid, or a big X through the object of obsession. In other words: it’s not a good system. Not at all. And it can’t really do the job of picking up patterns in order predict relapses. The information is too unorganized for that.
So ….
I decided to try the Optimism Software that my blogging buddy James Bishop has designed. Keep in mind that I am a technological moron, and had to ask him about 10 times how to download it. (If I can do it, you can definitely do it.) But after it was on my desktop and I could open it and start inputting my dysfunctional habits, I decided he was a genius.
Because it is much more than a software.
It’s a way of making you a more active part of your recovery.
For example, in that last month I’ve been using the software, I have become more disciplined about my sleep hygiene. I go to bed at 9:30 every night, and I get up at 5:30 in the morning. Knowing that I have to track my sleep in Optimism makes me less apt to act on the “This is brilliant! Let’s stay up all night!” thoughts that come in right as I’m about to shut down for the night.
I’m also more aware of the contents that I put into my mouth. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that James’s software makes me eat better. (He would be very wealthy if this was the case.) But knowing that I have to record the items that tease my mood (pancakes with lots of maple syrup, double chocolate-chip cookies, mochas, fruit pops) make me more aware of the connection between the two (cookies and mood). And, I’m thinking that this awareness will eventually translate into more will power. At least that’s the plan.
The act of recording your diet, sleep, exercise, and stressors makes you more accountable. James writes:
Optimism prompts you to keep a detailed record of all things that affect your state of mind. By monitoring patterns in your life you can identify negative influences that you need to avoid, early warning signs that your health is deteriorating, and the inputs and activities that benefit you most. Simple charts highlight cause and effect relationships that you might normally miss, and you can develop a Health Plan to follow and update as you learn more about the things that positively and negatively affect you.
Go to FindingOptimism.com to find out more or to download a free trial.
I should also note that Optimism is now available in an online-version as well, and they are working on an iPhone version too for your mobile phone.
Optimism is “an action plan” for your mental health — it can be just the thing you might need to help keep you going toward your goals in therapy, life, or just changing behaviors or habits that are no longer working for you.
The best way to try out Optimism to see if it holds any value for you is to download the free 7-day trial and commit to using it during those 7 days. You may be surprised that such a simple idea can translate into such a big deal in your life!
-Dr. John Grohol
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Optimism: Great Technology That Can Help You | World of Psychology « 7 Journals (10/25/2009)
6 Comments to
“Optimism: Great Technology That Can Help You”
I don’t have time to comment at length, but I would just like to say, “WHAT”?!
Optimism software? When are we going to have silicon chips placed in our heads, or maybe like the characters in “The Matrix”, have a port put in the back of our skulls?
The road to hell is paved with good intentions. I sincerely believe this is intended to help people, but am I the only jaded, suspicious person traveling along in this medium to have to ask outloud why we are distancing ourselves from direct human contact?
Some of these movies really reinforce the adage “art imitating life”. Truly brings me chills. I hope posts this week will be more grounded. At least I still have hope. For today at least.
It was thousands of years since we live on this planet and we didn’t need any software to be happy. Why do we need it today? As for me it’s at least a bit awkward to use software to make yourself happy… Go for a walk, read a book, meet/make some friends etc.!
Today we have epidemics of eating disorders and lots of people feeling bad about their weight and body image — It’s about being “perfect”. Isn’t the idea of getting perfectly happy, a kind of this way of thinking? Let’s have perfect health, perfect BMI, perfect job, perfect partner, perfect children, perfect friends, perfect holiday and perfect happiness! Let’s improve everything! And, let’s do it efficiently (because it’s a perfect way of doing)!
Life is full of ups and downs and it’s perfectly normal. I see no reason to caring for my “happiness”. If I’d feel bad, I’d do something with it. Otherwise, I’ll just live my life, without bothering if it is, or isn’t enough perfect.
Skillsnotpills – I’m not sure why you think this software would distance oneself from direct human contact. It’s just a software version of a daily journal/mood diary, something that mental health professionals (among many others) have been suggesting people use for years. In fact, keeping such a journal has been shown to help people use skills and not pills to manage their mental health symptoms, so I’m truly baffled by your objection. In fact, I could see this software as being invaluable for people who have developed Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAP). Perhaps I missed your point, however.
Timo W – Striving for a better life is suddenly a bad thing? Nothing in the article talked about or advocated for a “perfect” life. Implying that being mindful of eating a well balanced, healthy diet will lead to an eating disorder is absurd. An emphasis on mindful eating is exactly what many clinics do to treat eating disorders, and this is software that could help someone with that task.
Again, this software is just an electronic version of a mood diary, nothing to be frightened about.
ditto Paul.
This is not meant for everyone. Think of it as a coach to help keep one’s Mood Diary/Journal, well, more organized and prompts one to consider areas that might be missed otherwise.
And, skillsnotpills, this software is an attempt to help persons in those skills – to develop the habits that will help them in their daily lives. Although I doubt you are cognizant of kaizen, this is precisely an application of this to one’s personal life. What you note and measure, you can then assess. Once you assess it, you can opt to make a change. Your continued monitoring (measuring, noting) will allow to evaluate if that change indeed made a difference, and if so, in what way. This notation basically makes you more “mindful” of what you are and are not doing – and feeling.
The big question – did Ms. Bouchard receive anything in exchange for this positive blog? Did she pay for her software?
Does this site have a vested interested in steering people to the the software?
I stumbled upon this software a couple of days ago and thought WOW! this looks fantastic! I’m terrible with keeping journals, so i’m not sure whether this will be one of those good intentions things…but what really strikes me as useful is that the software can help you see patterns in your moods. I think that would be tremendously helpful in identifying triggers and planning ways to overcome them. As you said, skills not pills…that’s what I’m hoping.
Now my only question is desktop software or online version?
And I can’t wait for the iphone app. Anything that makes input faster and easier makes it more likely that I’ll do it every day.
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Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 25 Oct 2009
