This post was developed in partnership with Pfizer as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central.
As with a large percent of the parenting population, and population in general, my iPhone is like a third hand. There are few times you’ll find me walking through my home without my iPhone in my hand or pocket. It embarrasses me a bit to say that, but not too much. I don’t carry my iPhone around so I can check Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest, instead, I use my phone as a productivity and quality of life enhancement tool. For just about every task I do throughout the day, I use an app that corresponds with the task or activity. From setting a timer for laundry to looking up a recipe for dinner, there’s an app for that. I use a workout app to guide me through my exercise routine and an audiobook app to listen to a book while I’m folding laundry or cleaning. I recently added one more app to my daily routine called Moodivator.
Having struggled with depression since high school, I’ve tried many ways to cope. One coping mechanism that’s stuck with me is mood tracking. Situational experiences often have the most significant effect on my mood. These experiences include trying to give both kids attention at the same time, having dinner ready at a reasonable time while finishing my workday, and vacuuming the floor for the 3rd time in one day.
Tracking my mood with Moodivator™, a free iOS app from Pfizer, allows me to see patterns in my mood that I might not notice otherwise. For example, consistent use of Moodivator the last couple of weeks showed me that I felt ‘not so good’ in the evening hours. This is likely due to both kids wanting attention at the same time and I feel like a ping-pong ball bouncing off the walls from child to child. Seeing this pattern in the palm of my hand, made me think about how to best remedy the situation. It’s hard to ignore something that’s in your face like that. Moodivator motivated me to make a couple of small changes that have had a significant impact on my life including spending time with each of the kids separately so I can give him or her my undivided attention. You’re probably thinking duh, but it just didn’t click until I saw the pattern in front of me.
I will show my therapist my Moodivator™ report so she can help walk me through steps I can take to reduce the feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression I occasionally feel. Showing my therapist my Moodivator report gives her the opportunity to put the puzzle pieces together in a way that I may not have the know-how to do, which may enhance my and my family’s quality of life significantly.
You don’t have to suffer from depression to experience mood changes, so using Moodivator is not just a great tool for those who have been diagnosed with depression but, in my opinion, a great app for everyone.
See how Moodivator™, in the palm of your hands, can help you as you as you manage your depression in the Mooditavor video.
Download the free Moodivator app in the iOS App Store to set adjustable and customized goals and track your mood over time. You can also share your progress with your care team via the app.
The Moodivator app is not a treatment for depression and does not take the place of your doctor’s care or advice. This app also includes information about a prescription treatment option for depression.