About Naked Nerves

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Welcome to my blog. In it I hope to present some comments on what it’s like to live and thrive with a variety of Chronic Invisible Illnesses. I’ll go into more detail in my posts but I’ll mention that I do have Chronic Pain, Bipolar Disorder Type II, Migraines, Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, Asthma and a Bad Attitude. ( Just kidding on that last one – gotta keep a sense of humour ya know!) I know this will garner me some crap but I also include in my array of difficulties that I’m Gay and tho I Love it and don’t mean to equate it with illness, or illness with it either, it’s still an Invisible Condition I live with and  so I’ll write about it from time to time.

I’m 63 now and have lived with some of these things for my entire life like the Bipolar Illness, and the Asthma, with the Migraines for 36 years. I think the Fibromyalgia and Arthritis are more recent, like 20 some years, but I dunno for sure. It’s a long time to be ill and still try to live a good life but I have and still do. I’m on disability now tho and have been for almost 18 years. I hate it sometimes but I’m grateful for it and it allows me to survive pretty well and I have a  wonderful partner who helps me in all ways.

I hope to be of service to my community with this blog and help people out who are struggling with similar issues to myself. I’ve been a”helper” all my life and I seem to have it in my blood. So I’ll try to stay positive and give good advice and encouragement and also to stay Real and give Hope for a better NOW and a fine tomorrow too.

I realize now after having this blog up for a little while that I should really say something more about the title. It’s provocative I know and I mean it to be. But maybe not in the way you might think. I’m talking about what it’s like to live with the feeling that your nerves have been stripped bare of all insulation and that you’re naked to the world because you don’t have any mulch left, as my gardener side would put it. I’m out of cushioning from the daily struggles of my life. I’ve had too much pain, too many times I was crazy and anxious and filled with panic, too many times when I thought I was surely going to die from it all that sometimes I just can’t cope anymore.

I remember one time when a trolley went by my apt. and I could literally feel the energy of the bus tearing my nervous system apart and it actually Hurt me it was so powerful. I mean in a physical sense, not just a metaphorical one. So when I use the term Naked Nerves I’m talking about a real phenomena that causes me distress in my ongoing life. I guess I’m looking to both give and receive a little support and comfort here in talking about it. So far I’m finding that with a variety of kind people and I’m so grateful for that. Thank you for reading and posting on my site.

Good Health and Happiness to you all, despite our Illnesses,

Steve

29 comments on “About Naked Nerves”

  3. Hello again my friend. I hope you don’t think this sneaky of me,, I am just being the servant of Karma here Steve :-D! Y’know,, what goes around comes around! I have nominated Naked Nerves for the Dragon’s Loyalty Award. Haha! You know the drill. You don’t have to accept the award etc. etc. but, if you would like to check it out, you can find a link to your nomination here- http://apothecarysgarden.com/2014/01/16/the-dragons-loyalty-award-part-2/. I love Naked Nerves, and I know many people in my sphere who would enjoy and benefit from this blog as much as do. At the very least the nomination will open that door to others.
    Keep up the great work Steve. I feel blessed and honoured to have you in my sphere and my life.
    Peace Dan

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    • I think my Karma just ran over my Dogma… 😉 My oh my. Another award, but this is different in that it’s for Naked Nerves and it’s my first award here so it’s very special to me. Thank you so much for including me in your nominations. I may take a couple of posts to do it as you’ve done but I’ll get to it soon. I’m glad Naked Nerves has been useful to you and I hope that others come to read it and enjoy it, and maybe even get a little help in the process. I feel blessed and honored to know you too. It’s a Great Circle we’re in here and I’m very grateful for your presence in it with me. I feel a strong kinship with you and your work. Thank you again for this exceptional award!
      Peace and good health to you,
      Steve

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  4. Do you want to read my book…still going through publishing crazies but I can share the manuscript with you. It’s 123 pages, Times New Roman 12 pt font. If interested, let me know by email–>ifont@aol.com. HUGS…

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  5. You read the excerpts–>Taking Exit 13. It’s about a broken being…a fiction but you know fictions have their own truths. And, thank you for being there Steve…don’t ever delete the blog! EVER!

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  6. Great description of what you mean by ‘naked nerves’. It’s a great way to deconstruct medical jargon so that others can get a glimpse of what you experience.

    I just discovered your blog, and will check out the archives as I have time. Last semester I wrote a paper about using nature-based interventions as treatment or adjunct to treatment for individuals with severe mental illness (social work curriculum). Horticultural therapy, animal-based therapy, wilderness therapy etc … to help individuals connect with nature on a deep level. I was wondering if you feel that gardening helps you cope with ‘naked nerves’.

    Looking forward to reading more of your posts. Sending lots of positive energy for well-being and peace.

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    • I’m glad my description of Naked Nerves makes good sense to you. It’s a real thing for me and I feel it so intensely at times. I hope my words do make Invisible Illness more accessible to others. That’s so cool you wrote about the ways other modalities can affect our perceptions of illness and how they can help us. I wrote a post on how gardening heals me here: https://nakednerves.wordpress.com/2012/11/24/how-gardening-heals-me/ that you might find interesting. I also did one on Chaos Theory and other things and talk about different ways to re-frame thoughts and other issues. I am honored that you’re reading my past posts and I thank you for that. I look forward to reading more of yours as well… It’s good to write about these issues to bring them to light. Some of them are pretty heavy but it’s good to be able to talk about them. Thanks for the good energy! I can always use it… 😉
      cheers,
      Steve

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    • Thank you Kitt, for reading my posts and for your comments on them. We follow different paths but I think we’re on the same road in trying to help others cope with this disease we share. Nature keeps me healthy and whole and always has been there for me. I can’t always count on myself as I’d wish, but I can count on the Spirit of Life. 🙂
      peace,
      Steve

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    • Thanks for your visit David. I’m actually not blogging at this time. I’ve been in a serious depressive cycle for months now and just don’t have the energy to write anything interesting. You know how it goes. It sucks the life out of you… Ah well, life goes on, eh?
      Best wishes to you as well,
      Steve

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  11. Hi Steve,

    I love your blog! I especially am curious about your identification of Chronic Invisible Illnesses and how you have come understand that identity. I’m a podcaster and would like you to share your story. This link gives more context on what I’m looking for:

    apowergreaterthan.com/be-a-guest

    Check it out and maybe we can chat more?

    Thanks,
    Sean

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