Gratitude is connected to systems of the brain that regulate emotions and support stress relief, such as heart rate, arousal levels, and pain. The medial pre-frontal cortex is associated with socializing and pleasure, viewing others’ perspectives, empathy, and feelings of relief. This portion of the brain is located in the frontal lobe where the two brain hemispheres meet. The medial prefrontal cortex is activated when one experiences gratitude. Feelings of gratitude can also bind people to their current partners and friends by encouraging behavior that will improve and prolong their relationships. Research suggests that grateful people “find, remind, and bind” to one another, as gratitude helps them find others who have the potential for a high quality relationship and reminds them of the positive aspects of their existing relationships. This can strengthen relationships and improve workplace environments. People are more likely to be generous, kind, and helpful when they are grateful. Experiencing gratitude can also keep a person grounded in the present, leading to increased mindfulness. 6 This positive perspective may prevent one from hyper-focusing on thoughts or experiences, which can lead to decreased depression and anxiety over time. 6,7 Grateful people tend to view adversity as an opportunity for growth, which can increase resilience. 6,7 Trait gratitude is also linked to a more positive outlook on life, increased optimism and hope, and having a more positive interpretation of social situations. There are many individual benefits one may experience by being grateful, including improved physical and psychological health, increased happiness, life satisfaction, positive mood, meaning in life, and quality of sleep.
Gratitude can be described in three ways: (1) as a trait - how naturally grateful is a person? (2) as a mood – how does gratitude fluctuate throughout the day? and (3) as an emotion – how fleeting is the feeling of gratitude after a positive interaction with someone? 6Ī person can feel gratitude in a variety of ways and intensities. Although more research is needed to explore the direct effects of gratitude on the alleviation of mental strife, there is strong indication that gratitude can improve symptoms for those suffering with anxiety and depression. 2, 3, 5 But what if there was a way to “treat” anxiety and depression outside of the traditional medical model of pills?Įmerging evidence shows there may be an alternative approach to battling anxiety and depression without the side effects of medication: Gratitude. 4 Despite the steady rise in use of pharmaceuticals to treat anxiety and depression, these mental illnesses persist. 2 Results from the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health show continual increases of prescriptions for adults 18 and older who have problems with emotions, nerves, or mental health. National trends are startling: According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the use of antidepressants jumped 65% from 1999 to 2014. 2,3 They are predominantly used to treat depression, but are also commonly prescribed for anxiety disorders. In some ways, these anxieties have become accepted as societal norms, and our collective need for instant gratification drives us to reach for pills to fix our problems.Īntidepressants are among the top three most prescribed medication classes in the U.S., with more than 260 million prescriptions each year. Depressive episodes and anxiety attacks are all too common: school-aged children burst into tears over test scores, teenagers retreat to the “safety” of their phones and disengage with peers, college graduates struggle to pay off mountains of debt, and working-age adults face the overlapping stressors of work, family, and personal care.
1 Despite efforts among health care professionals, schools, and workplaces to address mental health issues, anxiety and depression remain pervasive public health concerns. In fact, those who have been born since 1997 are reported to have the worst mental health of any current generation. The epidemics of anxiety and depression have led to alarming declines in mental health.
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