"Here's what is happening in your brain and body when you think or do something that expresses gratitude and reminds you of what you have and what you can give to someone else: Gratitude produces an explosion of neurochemicals- oxytocin, dopamine, serotonin, endorphins-that downregulate our nervous systems, reduce stress, elevate our mood, produce a sense of well-being, empathy, and perspective."
"For many of us, Thanksgiving can be a wonderful holiday because it is a time when we look around our table and see the faces of people we cherish, a meal we have prepared together, and, hopefully, a reflection on what the life we have gotten to live has given us. Thanksgiving can also be stressful. It can be a reminder of someone we have lost, a family that is hurting, and the scarcity of the things we need."
Thanksgiving evokes a mix of love, stress, and gratitude, reflecting both connection and potential loss or scarcity. Experiencing or expressing gratitude releases oxytocin, dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins, which downregulate the nervous system, reduce stress, elevate mood, and foster empathy, perspective, and well-being. Gratitude can increase brain plasticity and functions as an intentional action that engages neural circuits and alters brain biochemistry. Ancient communal rituals that center on shared gratitude and togetherness embody characteristics that align with these biological benefits and support collective and individual health.
Read at Psychology Today
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