"Then the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life..." — Genesis 2:7
May is Mental Health Awareness Month—a time to recognize that emotional wellness, mental wellness, and spiritual wellness matter.
Many of us live carrying layers of stress—personal pain, survival mode, and the weight of what is happening around us. Sometimes our bodies stay on guard so long that we begin holding our breath without even realizing it. We breathe from our chest rather than deep in our diaphragm because our nervous system has learned to stay on high alert rather than relaxed. This is not weakness. It is the body’s attempt to protect us.
Over time, this can contribute to tension, anxiety, fatigue, irritability, sleep disturbances, and emotional overwhelm.
Yet God designed our bodies with a built-in pathway toward calming and restoration.
💛 Understanding the Breath and the Body
Place one hand on your chest and the other on your abdomen. As you breathe, notice which hand moves most.
If the chest rises more than the abdomen, you may be breathing primarily from the chest—a pattern commonly associated with stress and nervous system activation. Diaphragmatic breathing, where the abdomen gently rises, encourages fuller oxygen exchange and helps signal safety to the body.
Deep breathing activates the vagus nerve—the body’s built-in calming system—and helps move us from fight-or-flight toward regulation, restoration, and rest.
The vagus nerve is part of the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps regulate heart rate, digestion, emotional regulation, and the body’s ability to recover after stress. When activated through slow, intentional breathing, it sends a message throughout the body: "You are safe enough to soften."
💛 Breathing Exercise for Regulation and Peace
Try this simple breathing exercise:
- Place one hand on your chest
• Place one hand on your abdomen
• Slowly inhale through your nose for 4 counts
• Allow the abdomen to rise first
• Hold gently for 4 counts
• Slowly exhale through your mouth for 6 counts
• Repeat 3–5 rounds
Mental health matters. Rest matters. Healing matters.
Sometimes healing begins not with doing more—but with reconnecting to the very breath God first gave us. Because healing begins when the body no longer feels it has to fight alone.
Resource: Different types of breathing exercises (1) Daily Breathing - YouTube
Submitted by:
Rochele Henderson, Registered Associate Marriage Family Therapist
Axis Mundi Center for Mental Health