Optimism is a Mac application designed for people who are dealing with mental health problems, such as bipolar disorder, depression, etc.
This free program comes with a straightforward interface. All you need to do is to select the proper information (mood level, how you coped the day in question, quality of sleep, etc.) from the Record page for the current day. The application will automatically save these selections, add them to the Report screen, and generate accurate charts based on your recent mental health condition. You can check the integrated help manual if you need extra help completing the aforementioned form.
In the Plan window you can write down the strategies, triggers, and symptoms for your current mental health condition. These details are also automatically saved. You can print the entered data or export it as a PDF document if you need to share the information with other people, such as your doctor or a family member.
Another important advantage is the fact that you can sync the stored data among multiple devices, such as tablets, other Macs or Windows PCs, mobile phones, etc.
All in all, I think Optimism might prove to be of good use to people dealing with mental health issues. It's very simple to handle, helps you keep track of your daily progress, and enables you to create a plan for recovery.
Pros
- Provides you with detailed charts and reports based on the stored data
- Comes with a comprehensive help manual
- Allows you to create and export recovery plans
Cons
- Couldn't find any disadvantages
I was intrigued by the program's name. The app itself turned out to have a lot of evaluation options, which I found difficult for myself to fill in on the third day already. So, I didn't really get how helpful the app is. But I know for sure: it is not for the lazy ones.