10/6/2021 BREATH, STRESS and HEALTH
Genesis 2:7 And the LORD GOD formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. [King James translation]
Summary
The creation of man is actually described in two parts. In Genesis, Chapter 1, the creation of man’s spiritual origins is discussed. Genesis 1:26-27 states:
Then GOD said, ‘“Let US make a man---someone like OURSELVES, to be master of all life upon the earth and in the skies and in the sea.’ So GOD made man like his Maker.”
This scripture about man’s “spiritual” creation is consistent with John 4:24, which states: “GOD is a Spirit: and they that worship HIM must worship HIM in spirit and in truth.”
The second part of mankind’s creation addresses man’s “physical” or bodily creation. In Genesis, Chapter 2, the Bible states:
The time came when the Lord GOD formed a man’s body from the dust of the ground and breathed into it the breath of life. And man became a living person.
GOD breathed into the body of man's life and then man became a physical living being.
GOD’s BREATH is essential for life.
ANXIETY, STRESS & MENTAL HEALTH
The worldly news on anxiety stress and mental health is not good.
In an article entitled, “Polls Show Worsening Impact of COVID on Mental Health,” Megan Brooks reports that “Americans’ worry and anxiety about COVID-19 is not getting better.” According to Brooks, more people are reporting mental health effects from the pandemic this year than last year. Some of the polling results included the following:
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- [A]bout 4 in 10 Americans (41%) report they are more anxious than last year, down from just over 60%.
- Young adults age 18-29 (49%) and Hispanic/Latinos (50%) are more likely to report being more anxious now than a year ago.
- Americans are more anxious about family and loved ones getting COVID-19 (64%) than about catching the virus themselves (49%).
- Concern about the safety of family and loved ones has increased since last year's poll (conducted in September, rising from 56% then to 64% now. Hispanic/Latino individuals (73%) and Black individuals (76%) are more anxious about COVID-19 than White people (59%).
- More than half of adults (53%) with children said they are concerned about the mental state of their children and almost half (48%) said the pandemic has caused mental health problems for one or more of their children, including minor problems for 29% and major problems for 19%.
- More than a quarter (26%) of parents have sought professional mental health help for their children due to the pandemic.
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See, “Polls Show Worsening Impact of COVID on Mental Health,” by Megan Brooks, May 4, 2021, https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20210504/poll-shows-worsening-impact-of-covid-on-mental-health