Mental health: the relationship between your brain, body and spirit

Dave Burke  |  Features
Date posted:  20 Sep 2024
Share Add       
Mental health: the relationship between your brain, body and spirit

There are 85 billion nerve cells in your brain, only slightly fewer than the number of stars in the galaxy! But the real work is done by the connections between them.

There are around 100 such connections for every brain cell. Every time a tiny packet of a chemical messenger crosses one of these connections, something important happens in your head. These 185 billion connections firing constantly can monitor your temperature, move your thumb, or make you seethe with resentment.

Whatever your ‘soul’ or ‘spirit’ is, it is intimately connected with this activity in your brain – we are whole beings, not independent spirits hitching a ride in some passing flesh. Christians believe that the psyche (your self) is more than just your brain, but our minds are intimately connected with our brains. Those brain cells are important to your health.

Share
< Previous article| Features| Next article >
Read more articles on:   mental health
Read more articles by Dave Burke >>
Features
Mental wellbeing: Four keys to human flourishing

Mental wellbeing: Four keys to human flourishing

Every so often I get taken aside by someone who tells me: “You talk about mental health and wellbeing, but …

Comment
Finding a counsellor: Do they have to be a Christian?

Finding a counsellor: Do they have to be a Christian?

As a pastor, when I feel that someone is a bit stuck, I often refer people to a friend who …

Subscribe

Enjoy our monthly paper and full online access from just £18/year

Find out more

Give a subscription

Our monthly newspaper is the perfect gift for those who love to think deeply

Give here