Practical guide

How to Talk to Your Doctor About How You've Been Feeling

Bringing up low mood with a doctor can feel hard — but it's one of the most useful things you can do. This guide gives you a simple plan: what to prepare, how to bring your MoodCheck results, and the exact words you can use to get the conversation started.

01Why it's worth having the conversation

Doctors are trained to ask about mood — but appointments are short and patients rarely raise it. When you bring it up yourself, you save time and make it easy for the doctor to help.

A PHQ-9-style snapshot is a useful starting point: it gives you and the doctor a shared, concrete description of what you've been experiencing — instead of having to find the words in the moment.

02Before the appointment: prepare in five minutes

1. Write down the timeline

When did it start? Did something change around that time? One or two sentences is enough — e.g. "About three months ago, after my job got more stressful."

2. Note the symptoms that bother you most

Sleep, energy, appetite, concentration, interest in things. You don't need a list — just the two or three things that affect you most.

3. Bring your MoodCheck result

Take the free test, then print the summary page, download it as a file, or show it on your phone. The result sheet includes your total, the level, and a plain-language summary — exactly the kind of information a doctor can work with.

4. Think about what you want to ask

One or two questions is enough, e.g. "What do you think is going on?" or "What are my options?"

03How to open the conversation

You don't need to be eloquent. Any of these works:

"I've been feeling low for a few months and it's starting to get in the way. I took a self-test at home and brought the results."

"I wanted to talk about my mood. I'm not sure if it's anything, but I haven't been myself lately."

"Could we go through what's been bothering me? I made a few notes."

If the doctor seems rushed, it's okay to say: "I know we only have a few minutes — I'd really like to talk about my mood."

04What the doctor is likely to ask

Don't worry about having perfect answers. The doctor will probably ask:

How long have you been feeling this way?
How has your sleep and appetite been?
Has it affected work, school, or relationships?
Have you had these feelings before?
Have you ever had thoughts of harming yourself?

If they ask about self-harm

Answer honestly. Asking this question is standard practice — it isn't a judgment, and it doesn't make things worse. Being honest is what lets the doctor help you stay safe.

05After the appointment

Write down what was agreed — the next steps, any follow-up, and when to come back. If something didn't feel right or you weren't heard, it's completely reasonable to seek a second opinion. Your experience deserves to be taken seriously.

If you need help right now

Your safety comes first. If you're in immediate danger, call your local emergency number (911, 112, 999, 000…).

If you're struggling but not in immediate danger, free crisis lines are available: 988 in the US (call or text), 116 123 in the UK & Ireland, and findahelpline.com lists free local helplines in 130+ countries. In China: call 12356 (psychological assistance hotline) or 110 / 120 in an emergency.