Love Your Nervous System!
Hello you mesmerizing human! I’m so happy that you’re here :) and I hope that you’re having an amazing day today :) As I’m writing this intro, I’m sipping on some black chai tea, while the kiddos have successfully turned our living room into a live recreation of “Luigi’s Mansion”. It’s rather cool, I’ll have to hop back into being a ghost being surprisingly sucked up by a backpack vacuum in a hot minute!
That’s one of the beauties of being human, isn’t it? The fun moments of creativity that all sparked from one idea. One thought is all it takes to start something incredible. As my high school cross country coach (and amazing person) would say, “how do you eat an elephant? (not a real elephant, stick with me for the metaphor for just a minute here!) one bite at a time.
It’s all one small step at a time.
And it started in your intricate, beautiful brain.
Close up of “Nervous”, an original oil painting based on our Nervous System
The human body is 100 percent a work of art; each system is thought out and constructed to each tiny detail and function. It’s also physically beautiful, I’m often inspired by each individual system. I worked as a nurse for 7 years, and in nursing school we spent A LOT of time studying each body system, it’s function, and how the body works together for our good. This always resonated with me and is a core inspiration for a lot of the artwork you may have seen from me.
This was the inspiration behind the “Nervous System Collection”.
(Pictured below, “Nervous”, “Look Into My Eyes”, and “See”, the Original pieces of the “Nervous System Collection”
What is the Nervous System?
Please keep in mind that I’m not a medical professional, and this is all stuff that I learned and should not be taken for medical advice, sound good! Oke Doke :) This is all from personal experience, and stuff I’ve picked up along the way!
Our nervous System is split up into two different parts. The first part consists of our brain and spinal cord, and this is called our Central Nervous System. (Nervous System: What It Is, Parts, Function & Disorders (clevelandclinic.org)
The Second component of our nervous system is the Peripheral Nervous System, which is composed of nerve endings and neurons that send messages to the rest of our body, and relay the messages back to the CNS (Central Nervous System). I like to think of the CNS as a highway/interstates, whereas the PNS (Peripheral Nervous System) is the exits, roadways, and backroads of our Nervous System.
Within the Peripheral Nervous System, you’ll find the autonomic nervous system and somatic nervous system. The somatic nervous system is the movements that you choose to do. For example, I’m looking at my lightly steaming cup of coffee and I decide in my brain that I want a sip of the life juice. It’s my somatic nervous system that sends the message from the brain, through my spinal chord, to my arms and fingers to pick up the mug I desire. The autonomic nervous system takes care of the life functions that you don’t need to think about to keep your body functioning (ie. breathing, heart pumping, digesting your food, etc.) (Nervous System: What It Is, Parts, Function & Disorders (clevelandclinic.org)
Didn’t think you’d be getting a little bit of an anatomy lesson today, did you! HA :D I could dive deeper into the Nervous System ALL DAY! The amount of functions that it does, that it quite frankly doesn’t get credit for, is astounding!
However, I’m going to get to the point as to why I’m going all in with the Nervous System today. Our Nervous System is also responsible for our fight or flight response. It’s been designed into our brains that if we are perceived to be in danger, our body will give us the energy and ability to either run or fight if necessary.
"See" An Original Painting from the "Nervous System" Collection
What’s the Point Here?
You may be thinking, okay, the anatomy lesson is great, but when I lay at night and worry about the workload awaiting me, come Monday morning, while trying to sleep Sunday night, I don’t see how this system is helping me here. Let me be the first to say, I’ve been there. I still have feelings like this from time to time, and I get it.
Here’s the thing; the thoughts and worries send a signal to your brain of danger, and it has a hard time telling the difference between our thoughts of anxiety and being chased by a bear. So, if you think about it, your body is trying to make it feel uncomfortable in an attempt to keep you safe from harm.
I went to therapy regularly for 3 years to help with Panic Disorder and Depression, and here are some take aways that I’ve learned. Again, this isn’t medical advice, please seek professional medical attention if appropriate. This is just some thoughts and take aways that I had from my own experience.
One of the simplest take aways that I have, and that is the root of everything else, is the understanding that my body is not out to get me. My body is doing it’s job, it is trying to protect me. And, it’s my job to work with my body and love my body, and reteach my body that there’s a HUGE difference between the Sunday Scaries and running from a pack of flying monkeys.
It was freaking hard, not going to lie to you. And it’s not something that happened overnight. And it’s something that I’m still conscious of and working on everyday, but holy cow do I feel that there are so many more resources in my tool box. And, recovery is possible.
I also want to take a moment that I understand that I’m coming at this from a privileged view point. I grew up in a home that if something felt off in our bodies, my parents encouraged going to the doctor. My mom has been a nurse for over 40 years at the time of writing this, and I myself have a BSN and worked in healthcare for around 9 years (2 years as a CNA, 7 years as an RN). Having knowledge of how the healthcare system speaks and functions definitely gives me a leg up.
Another area that I’m privileged is that I have a supportive spouse and a safe home; and also, healthcare coverage. Not everyone has access to these things, and I want to acknlowedge that. Personally, I believe that access to affordable medical care should be a right, not a privilege (I live in the United States), but that’s another blog post for another day!
If you don’t have access to medical care, therapy, etc. , and you’re living in the United States, I encourage to look into your local county and see what resources may be available to you.
Healing my Nervous System isn’t something that I could do alone. For my personal health, it was a combination of therapy (especially EMDR), medical doctor advice, exercise, nutrition, medication, faith practices, safe support system to talk to, mantras, journaling, meditation, etc. If anxiety and panic is something that you’re struggling with, I encourage to reach out to your primary care provider or local counseling services, and services available through your county if needed; please know that you’re not alone <3 And you’re loved and worthy of all the things!
Our Nervous System and Art!
Okay, I wasn’t planning on having this blog to dig into the mental health side of things, but it appears that it was meant to. I hope that it’s helped whoever it was meant to.
I’m also a firm advocate for the fact that creativity is nourishing to our nervous system. Whether it be through writing, drawing, painting, sculpture, creating games, imaginative play, whatever it may be. Stretching our brains to think outside of the box and come up with creative solutions helps us grow and is nourishing.
What is something that brings you joy? Something that you like to do that gives you peace?
The Nervous System (along with all the bodily systems) are so intricate and beautiful. I enjoyed learning about them in college; it made studying an easy task for me.
This was all the inspiration behind the “Nervous System Collection”; a collection of artwork inspired by the anatomy and functions of the Nervous System :)
Always remember; you, my friend, are a work of art. You are unique, intricate, and wonderfully made. There’s only one you, and the world needs that :)
Have an amazing day, much love!
Melissa <3