28. Gratitude Feel Overwhelming? How Small Thanks Make Big Changes

Gratitude doesn’t have to be big, emotional, or perfectly written — especially when you’re living with PTSD, anxiety symptoms, overwhelm, seasonal depression, or burnout. In this gentle, trauma-informed episode of Practical Solutions for PTSD, Lori Owens shares simple, real-life ways to practice gratitude that actually work for overwhelmed nervous systems.

If traditional gratitude journaling has ever felt exhausting, pressured, or impossible — you’re not alone. For many trauma survivors, sitting down to write can trigger stress instead of calm. That’s why this episode focuses on tiny, doable gratitude practices you can weave into ordinary moments, even when you feel anxious, numb, disconnected, or simply trying to make it through the day.

You’ll learn:

• Why small moments of gratitude calm anxiety and support nervous system healing

• How micro-gratitude releases dopamine and serotonin to ease anxiety symptoms, emotional overwhelm, and depression

• Why the brain struggles with gratitude during trauma recovery — and how to work with it, not against it

• Everyday gratitude practices that fit into real life (no journal required!)

• Ways to use sensory grounding to stay present and reduce mental overload

• How to practice “permission-based gratitude” on days when everything feels hard

These gentle tools are designed for listeners who feel overwhelmed, tired, or emotionally overloaded — and who want to feel even a little more peace, grounding, and steadiness in their daily lives.

Whether you’re dealing with holiday stress, relationship strain, seasonal depression, burnout, or a nervous system stuck in survival mode, this episode offers simple steps to help you reconnect with moments of goodness you might be missing.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Why can’t I feel thankful?” — or felt guilty for not keeping up with traditional gratitude habits — this conversation will feel like a compassionate friend taking your hand and reminding you:

✨ Small thanks really can create big change.

 

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