Can being grateful and giving thanks actually change your brain? The answer could very well be “YES!”
In fact, according to a recent article published on PositivePsychology.com, “When we express gratitude and receive the same, our brain releases dopamine and serotonin, the two crucial neurotransmitters responsible for our emotions, and they make us feel ‘good’. They enhance our mood immediately, making us feel happy from the inside.”
The article expressed the following four areas that gratitude can help with, which also happen to be four of the biggest health-related concerns at Vanderloo Family Medicine:
Gratitude reduces toxic emotions
Gratitude reduces pain
Gratitude improves sleep quality
Gratitude aids in stress regulation
So, what does this mean for our daily lives? It means that if we can express gratitude and thankfulness by forming a daily habit, we can in theory create more of the “feel good” hormones and further strengthen our ability to have positive emotions.
There are lots of simple ways we can do this. For example,
We can keep a daily journal beside the bed, and at the end of each day write one thing (or more!) that you are grateful for that day.
Another idea is to create a “gratitude jar” that you can set on your table; and each time you sit down for a meal, write one thing that pops into your brain for which you are grateful.
If you have some sticky notes lying around, create a thankfulness collage by posting a new note each day…as the notes add up, it will be a visual reminder of all of life’s goodness.
Some of you may want to even take it a step further (get ready!) and actually write a gratitude letter to someone special in your life…maybe a former teacher, an elderly neighbor, a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while…the possibilities are truly endless. I bet while you write the letter, the positive energy will already be flowing, and by the time you put it in the mail you will have a smile on your face, but wait until the person receives it…sheer joy will ensue!
It may take setting a reminder on your phone in order to remember this daily practice, but soon it will become a joyful habit. If you are feeling particular down this season and find it difficult to find your gratitude button, remember to first give yourself lots of grace. This has been an emotional year for all of us. In the winter months, it is even more common to experience sadness and depression, even when it is not a pandemic-filled year! This type of depression linked with the seasons actually has a name, Seasonal Affective Disorder. In fact, we wrote a blog article entitled “Are You SAD?” to help explain exactly what it is (you can read our news feed for more information on this disorder).
If the sadness, depression, or anxiety you are experiencing feels more than normal for you, please reach out to your family medicine physician. Dr. John Vanderloo at Vanderloo Family Medicine will take the time to talk with you and answer questions you have about depression and anxiety. There is help available in the form of counseling and behavior modification that can significantly help, as well as medication that can help increase your mood to get you back on track.
Please feel free to click on the blue “Get in Touch” button and we will be glad to assist you on your journey to gratitude, health, and wellness. We offer Telehealth/Telemedicine appointments from the privacy of your home or office for $50 a visit, and we offer in-person patient appointments for $100 per visit. For extra cost-savings, we offer a $65 per month Direct Primary Care membership. There is no wait time for your appointment, and we often have same-day appointments available.
Vanderloo Family Medicine is thankful for you, and we wish you and yours a very blessed and happy Thanksgiving.