The Science of Gratitude

Prof Case Manag. 2022 Nov-Dec;27(6):261-262. doi: 10.1097/NCM.0000000000000602.

Abstract

"Gratitude" is more than a buzzword and may be more important than we realize. The science of gratitude is worth delving into, as science is beginning to show the following: the symptoms of the grateful person versus the stressed person with headaches, sleeplessness, compassion fatigue, and digestive issues can be likened to the sympathetic nervous system (the fight or flight response) versus the parasympathetic nervous system (the part of the nervous system that allows our body to "rest and digest")-the grateful person.