Health Assessment Tool
Here is a copy of the best health self-assessment tool I've been able to find. It's a 16 page PDF, The MS Quality of Life Instrument, that assesses physical health in eight ways, and mental health in five ways. The first 12 pages are the questionnaire. (You'll need to print them. Absolutely private)
There are four extra pages for scoring. For ease of use keep the questionnaire and the scoring system separate. I highly recommend that you print out and use this tool. It's very informative and well worth the effort. If you have trouble scoring it, contact me for help. (You will not need to disclose your results.)
How to Keep Your Own Health Journal
Begin with Your Own Health Diary
The simple process of keeping your own data, of writing your own record about how you are and how you change from day to day has the potential to change your life. You can make that as simple or as complex as you choose. In the process, you will begin to see new things, and you will change what you do.
I can't build that sort of written record about you. But you can in two weeks or a month. I encourage you to do so. In starting to improve my own health, I did not make that record. I don't know in any precise way how my health was when I began.
Once I realised better health was easily achievable, I changed too many things too quickly, and then I became unsure which of several changes, were driving the success I was having.
Journal Writing
Keeping a journal is a valuable practice for many other purposes too.
It's been my practice for forty years. I started not knowing what I was doing; really. Over time, I've found my handwritten exercise books, have produced considerable value in my life.
So before you spend any money, create a start-point, a benchmark record if you like, of how you are now. By all means, talk to the person who sent you here about that. We fully expect that you can significantly change your health status, but you need to PROVE that for yourself. We can't stress too much how important this simple first step is. Make a written record.
How do you change the habits of a lifetime?
Knowing what you should do, is one thing. Actually making the changes is another. If your family is helping you make this change it's much easier. If your family and friends are engaging in anti-life-giving habits and activities, choosing to be different, will not be easy.
Being different has a cost, but your journal will help you stay on course. It's easier if you can find friends who share your journey. Don't avoid joining groups both online and face to face.
In particular, making changes requires help and support from your life partner. With that most things are possible.
