7 Health Benefits of Gratitude
- Nicole Cozean, PT, DPT, WCS
- Nov 23, 2020
- 2 min read
The week of Thanksgiving is a time when many of us consciously set aside time to count our blessings and take stock of all the things in our lives that we can feel grateful for. But research shows that cultivating that sense of gratitude year-round can have major benefits for both our health and overall well-being.
Gratitude (noun): the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness
A feeling of gratitude has been linked to many health benefits, including:
1. Overall Physical Health
In one study of nearly 1,000 participants, researchers found that a sense of gratitude was correlated with better overall physical health. The study states: 'Grateful individuals experience better physical health, in part, because of their greater psychological health, propensity for health activities, and willingness to seek help for medical concerns."
Who are We at PelvicSanity?
At PelvicSanity, it's our mission to support patients with pelvic pain and pelvic floor symptoms, regardless of where you live. We can help with:
In-person treatment for those in Southern California at the PelvicSanity clinic
Immersive Out-of-Town program for those able to travel
Remote Consultations to get you expert 1:1 help, advice and an action plan
Online patient courses on Interstitial Cystitis and Movement for Pelvic Health
A Facebook support group for patients called Finding Pelvic Sanity.
2. Lower blood pressure
Counting blessings at least once a week significantly lowered blood pressure in one of the earliest studies on the effects of gratitude.
3. Lower stress
Individuals who feel more gratitude are more likely to have solid social support and lower levels of stress of depressive symptoms. It has also been found to improve family relationships (which can be important around the holidays!).
4. Better sleep
Just two weeks of consciously practicing gratitude helped improve sleep quality, lowered blood pressure, and created a sense of optimism.
5. Improved eating habits
People who kept a gratitude journal were shown to reduce their dietary fat intake by up to 25%.
6. Reduced depression symptoms
As it has been shown to reduce both stress and anxiety, it should be no surprise that gratitude also lowers symptoms of depression as well. In a study of nearly 3,000 individuals, researchers from BYU found gratitude results in fewer depressive symptoms.
7. Create an optimistic mindset
Simply writing down things to be grateful for increased optimism by 5-15%!
We wish you all a happy and healthy post-Thanksgiving season, and hope we can all work to cultivate a sense of gratitude throughout the year!
Dr. Nicole Cozean is the founder of PelvicSanity Physical Therapy in Orange County, CA. PelvicSanity treats patients from all over the world with remote consultations and the Immersive Out of Town Program. She also runs Pelvic PT Rising, training other pelvic PTs to better serve patients.
Named Physical Therapist of the Year, Dr. Nicole is author of the award-winning book The Interstitial Cystitis Solution and the first PT to serve on the ICA Board of Directors, Her passion is helping those with pelvic health issues - regardless of where they live - find lasting relief.
Reading this piece reminded me how much my mindset shifts when I intentionally look for small things to be grateful for—better sleep, less stress, even feeling more hopeful all start with that simple daily pause to say “thank you.” At the same time, I know there are seasons when gratitude feels hard to access, when energy and optimism are low and it’s more like emotional winter than Thanksgiving week. In those moments, the 🥀 symbol from this page wilted flower emoji captures that bittersweet space perfectly: acknowledging heartbreak or exhaustion, but still hinting that with time and care, something new can grow again.
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