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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Wildman on January 7, 2005, at 9:39:51
I've noticed over the course of the last year that the quality of my handwriting changes depending on my mental state.
I typically write everything down in small print using a mechanical pencil. When I am feeling up or "together", my handwriting (actually printing) is clear and sharp, and my work notes are organized and legible.
When I am feeling off, my handwriting is much more sloppy, error prone, tend use write in cursive and write all over the page.
Instead of tracking my moods via subjective self-assessment, I could achieve the same thing by keeping daily handwriting samples.
Anyone else experience this?
Wildman
Posted by Wildflower on January 7, 2005, at 12:12:23
In reply to My Handwriting: Proxy for Mental State?, posted by Wildman on January 7, 2005, at 9:39:51
I think this may be common. My first therapist made me give him numerous handwriting samples for pshcyo analyses. Without knowing me, he knew how I was doing based on the consistency of forming the same letter the same way. He also found that my writing was "all over the place" like my life and mood were. By the way, he was an ex-FBI profiler. He scared the crap out of me so I changed Ts.
Posted by Tabitha on January 7, 2005, at 13:11:03
In reply to My Handwriting: Proxy for Mental State?, posted by Wildman on January 7, 2005, at 9:39:51
Me too. I can really see my cycles by looking back through old journals. When I'm hypomanic it's big and loopy and punctuated with little drawings. When depressed it's tiny, flat, cramped and sloppy-looking. I like to use paper without lines-- I think you see more character to the writing that way.
When I start doubting that I'm really bipolar there's one journal section I look back at-- a record of my highest hypomania. When I look at that I think wow, this person is a little nuts!
I'll bet doctors could diagnose mental states better from writing than from patient interviews.
Posted by Wildman on January 7, 2005, at 13:12:53
In reply to Re: My Handwriting: Proxy for Mental State? » Wildman, posted by Wildflower on January 7, 2005, at 12:12:23
An FBI profiler? Whoa. That could get very interesting. I'd love to see what kind of crazy stuff he would attribute to me - that would be fascinating. I am very critical of myself and would love that sort of perspective on my life, it could be eye-opening (or a bunch of BS).
Wildman
Posted by Wildflower on January 7, 2005, at 14:49:41
In reply to Re: My Handwriting: Proxy for Mental State?, posted by Wildman on January 7, 2005, at 13:12:53
Seriously, he looked like a harmless grandpa-type social worker but he gave me the creeps. You should hear what he had to say about my tree drawing. He was into picture interpretation too but not necessarily into meds.
There are a ton of books on handwriting analyses if your interested. Can't recall them offhand but I'm sure their online somewhere.
Posted by bimini on January 10, 2005, at 13:37:10
In reply to My Handwriting: Proxy for Mental State?, posted by Wildman on January 7, 2005, at 9:39:51
My handwriting is unreadable most of the time. Script is very different, lots of letters look alike and most of the words are incomplete, I think. I can't understand what it is supposed to be.
I mindfully have to print upper case and not abbreviate anything.
bimini
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