Piedmont Macon shares how practicing gratitude can boost your health

As families gather for the holiday season, Piedmont Macon is reminding people to take a moment to focus on gratitude, a practice experts say is proven to benefit both mental and physical health.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – C Sabathne, a behavioral health therapist with Piedmont Macon, says research consistently shows that intentionally expressing gratitude can lead to better sleep, stronger immune function and improved relationships.

“Being grateful has a lot of research base,” Sabathne said. “This is the time of year where a lot of people are going to be gathering with friends and family and taking time to really focus on that intentionally, and there is a lot of research to back up that that’s really healthy for us.”

Sabathne says gratitude can also help fight depression and anxiety by boosting dopamine and serotonin which are the brain chemicals tied to motivation, pleasure and joy.

Experts say simple habits like writing down what you’re thankful for or sharing gratitude with others can create lasting improvements in overall well-being.